LAPD installs new high-tech cameras in police cars to capture every moment in HD

The LAPD is replacing its decade-old cameras with new indoor connected and tabletop cameras

for Sam D. Smith

May 9, 2023 at 8:09 p.m

Have you ever watched a video recorded on a police car dash cam and wondered why the quality wasn’t as good as the dash cam you picked up on Amazon for under a hundred bucks? Well, the LAPD seems to think there was room for improvement, especially since the cameras in their fleet are based on technology that’s more than a decade old. The solution is a system of cameras connected to each patrol car, capable of uploading images in real time.

It may not be as exciting an announcement as NYPD GPS trackers that can be fired from a modified AR-15, but improving camera quality could help those reviewing details and paint a clearer version of events in courts

Related: NYPD Sends Gas Bills to the Slammer with Fleet of Electric Mustang Mach-E GT Cop Cars

The specifics of the new cameras, such as resolution, were not made clear, but the cameras have been described as “high resolution”. Each patrol car will have a front dash camera pointed out the windshield, with a wide three-lane field of view. An additional interior camera will be installed in the cabin, aimed at the back seat. This camera can capture a “knee-to-head view of the occupant” and features infrared-enhanced night vision capabilities. The forward-facing dash cam automatically activates when an agent turns on their light bar.

The camera system is the Fleet 3 from Axom, a company that already has a contract with the LAPD for its Body 3 body cameras and Taser devices. Although not mentioned in the official LAPD release, according to Axom’s website, the Fleet 3 can also act as an AI-powered automated license plate reader (ALPR) that is capable of reading eight times more license plates than other units . In addition, the data can be controlled through a central network. Whether this aspect is an element of the LAPD system today remains to be seen.

What we do know, however, is that the new camera system has other neat tricks. For example, the Fleet 3 can be paired with the officer’s Axom body cameras to capture sound, eliminating the need for separate microphones that could be dislodged in altercations. And, with the installation of new Cradlepoint routers, Fleet 3 video and body cameras can be instantly uploaded to the system’s cloud for commanders to review. The routers use FirstNet and Verizon Wireless networks to ensure connectivity.

Photo credits: Axon

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Have you ever watched a video shot from the in-car camera of a police car and wondered why the quality wasn’t quite as good as the dashcam you picked up off Amazon for under a hundred dollars? Well, the LAPD seems to think there was room for improvement, especially as their fleet’s cameras are based on technology that’s over a decade old. The solution is a system of connected cameras in each patrol car, able to upload footage in real-time. "
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It may not be as exciting an announcement as the NYPD’s GPS trackers that can be shot out of a modified AR-15, but improving camera quality could help those reviewing details and paint a clearer version of events in court."
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Related: NYPD Sends Gas Bills To The Slammer With Fleet Of Electric Mustang Mach-E GT Cop Cars"
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Specifics of the new cameras, such as resolution, weren’t made clear, but the cameras have been described as “high resolution.” Each patrol car will have a dash cam up front pointed out of the windscreen, with a wide three-lane field of view. An additional interior camera will be fitted in the cabin, pointed at the backseat. This camera can capture a “knee-to-head occupant view” and features enhanced night view capabilities with infrared. The forward-facing dash cam is automatically activated when an officer switches their light bar on. "
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The camera system is the Fleet 3 from Axom, a company that already has a contract with the LAPD for its Body 3 body cameras and Taser devices. Although not mentioned in the official release from the LAPD, according to Axom’s website, the Fleet 3 can also act as an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) with AI that are able to read eight times more number plates than other units. In addition, the data can be monitored via a central network. Whether that aspect is an element of the LAPD system at present remains to be seen. "
  [6]=>
  string(519) "



What we do know, though, is that the new camera system has other neat tricks. For instance, the Fleet 3 can pair with officer’s Axom bodycams to capture sound, eliminating the need for separate mics that could get dislodged in altercations. And, with the installation of new routers from Cradlepoint, videos from the Fleet 3 and the bodycams can be instantly uploaded to the system’s cloud for review by commanders. The routers use both FirstNet and Verizon Wireless networks to ensure connectivity. "
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Photo Credits: Axon
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