First of two parts. 

Where does Culver City stand today on the hottest product in the country, body cameras for its police officers?

“I am planning to put in a request for them in next year’s (June) budget,” says Chief Scott Bixby.

He has sounded enthusiastic about body cams since they became a rage last year. “Body cams,” he said, “are a good thing.”

By next summer at this date, if not earlier, said the chief, the entire Culver City force should be wearing them.

“Not a matter of if but when,” Mr. Bixby said. Eventually, I think all agencies will have body cams and every kind of cam you can get.”

Perhaps surprisingly, cost of the cameras is not the primary concern of the police chief. Body cams range from $100 to $500.

Storage space is the larger issue, said Mr. Bixby, plus some dangling privacy concerns.

Body cams may be a panacea, but not the panacea, in his view.

“Unfortunately, body cams are not going to tell the whole story. Statistics bear out that many times it helps us in defending against false claims and gathering appropriate evidence.”

(To be continued)