Long Beach Police Department Body Worn Camera Program Enhancement

The City of Long Beach Police Department began its Body Worn Camera (BWC) program in 2016 with a pilot of 100 cameras in one geographic location and by 2020 has expanded its BWC program to all its geographic locations that now includes 649 BWC for patrol officers. Using BCWPIP funding, the department seeks to expand its current BWC program and move to full implementation by adding 184 BWCs: this will allow all sworn officers (Lieutenant and below) to have a BWC. This project will consist of four phases: (1) acquisition of equipment/service, (2) Training of BWC and performance module, (3) Implementation, and (4) Sustainment and Quality Assurance. These phases will cover the purchase of 184 cameras, infrastructure set-up, training and set-up of the BWCs, training of all supervisors of the Axon Performance Module, Implementation of the new BWCs and launch of the Performance Module. The 184 cameras will go to the remaining sworn officers in the Investigations Bureau that will have the ability to record enforcement related contacts, interviews, personnel complaints and other legitimate law enforcement contact where an officer believes that a recording would be appropriate. The key objectives of the grant program are to (1) expand the current body worn camera program for all sworn personnel to document all enforcement related contacts and (2) enhance the Department’s performance measurement and improvement plan in conjunction with the Department’s Early Intervention Program (EIP). The EIP is designed to assist supervisors with early recognition of employees who have been involved in a higher than average number of performance indicators as compared to other members within their peer group. Identifying those employees for supervisors provides the opportunity to conduct a detailed review of the employee’s actions to see if any performance trends exist that should be modified and improved. Review of the body worn camera footage of these identified employees is a good method of support for supervisors to review employee performance in this context. The use the Axon Performance Module and the Early Intervention Program can provide an efficient way to ensure compliance of BWC policy and meet the goals of the Department’s BWCPIP program.