Taser International touts LA Police orders for weapons, body cameras

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Police Department is receiving body cameras and new Taser weapons as part of its new Officer Safety Plan.

A total of 3,130 of the non-lethal weapons have been ordered by the department from Taser International as well as an initial 860 of the company's Axon body cameras, the company reported on Tuesday.

"The Los Angeles Police Department is committed to implementing safety measures to reduce the risk of injuries to both our officers and the members of our community, while improving trust within our communities," said LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck.

"In addition to these new TASER deployments, we plan to issue a body-worn camera and a TASER device to every officer. It is our goal to make these important tools available to every front line officer over the next few years."

Taser International said two orders were received late last year from the LAPD. One was for the upgrade of 2,270 older TASER weapons to the new TASER X26P Smart Weapon. The other was for an additional 860 TASER X26P Smart Weapon units and 860 Axon cameras.

The upgrade order was received and shipped in the fourth quarter of last year. The other order, also received in the fourth quarter of last year, will be shipped by the company to the LAPD in the first half of this year.

"We are passionate about technology that makes the world a safer place," said Rick Smith, co-founder and chief executive officer of Taser International. "It is our mission to make a TASER CEW (conducted electrical weapon) available to every officer, so they have the best available options to avoid injury or death.

"We believe the LAPD is making an important move toward a world where every officer has the best technology and training to minimize the chances of a deadly encounter."

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti had announced in mid-December the intention to order body cameras for his officers. Although the initial order is only for 860, the mayor said the department will eventually acquire about 7,000 cameras.

Procurement of the equipment coincides with protests in several cities around the country in the wake of a police shooting and killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and a later death of Eric Garner in New York during his arrest for the alleged illegal sale of cigarettes.

The protestors, some calling for the death of police officers, accuse law enforcement officers of brutality and racism. With the wearing of body cameras, LAPD officers would record every interaction with the public while on duty.

Taser International noted that the Los Angeles Police Department conducted a major study that showed the use of the non-lethal electrical weapon The Los Angeles Police Department is receiving body cameras and new Taser weapons as part of its new Officer Safety Plan.