The Santa Ana City Council is considering dashcams for all police patrol vehicles — in a move one councilmember argues will boost transparency, reduce the risk of lawsuits and strengthen community trust.
The proposal from Councilmember Jessie Lopez would require dashcams to activate automatically during pursuits, life-threatening incidents, and other critical enforcement actions. If approved, the Santa Ana Police Department would join other major agencies with similar technology in place, such as the Los Angeles Police Department and Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The LAPD requires dashcam activation during pursuits and emergency incidents, while OCSD cameras begin recording automatically when overhead lights are activated and continue until the incident concludes.
The addition of dashcams “can help reduce litigation, help improve relationships in the community, and help provide more accountability and clarity. That way events are recorded, and the council isn’t necessarily put in the middle trying to decipher what actually happened or didn’t happen,” Lopez said.
In-car video systems, also known as dashcams, offer a wider field of view and by automatically recording incidents, can provide critical evidence in criminal proceedings and administrative investigations, Lopez said in her proposal. She argued the technology would ensure “key events are recorded without relying solely on manual activation by officers.”
Manual activation would still be required during traffic or pedestrian stops, prisoner transports, and other enforcement events. Officers would not be allowed to deactivate cameras, under her proposal, except in limited cases involving privacy or tactical safety. In such cases, the incident would need to be documented, and a supervisor would need to be notified.
Councilmembers Benjamin Vazquez and Johnathan Hernandez voiced support for the proposal, though Councilmember Phil Bacerra and Mayor Valerie Amezcua raised concerns about funding. The council hasn’t made a decision or set a policy and have asked for more information.
“I’m not saying I won’t support this, but what I’d like is more information,” Amezcua said. “What is the cost going to be? Where is the funding going to come from?”
She said that during her monthly meetings with neighborhood association leaders, residents have primarily requested the use of drones, particularly to address issues surrounding events such as the Fourth of July. Some Orange County cities used drones this year to identify people using illegal fireworks.
In her proposal, Lopez acknowledged that implementing the policy would require multiple investments, including in equipment, secure data storage, and system maintenance. State public safety technology grants and the federal assistance grants could help with funding, she said.
Amezcua asked the police chief and city manager to return with data and recommendations following further research on funding sources, implementation, and rollout procedures. Discussion around the policy and whether it will move forward is expected to be brought back to the council in January.