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(FOX 11) - A first for the LAPD. The official release of body camera footage showing a controversial arrest where the suspect later died.
With great fanfare and ceremony the LAPD formally released it's first body camera footage of a controversial ''use of force incident." Chief Charlie Beck had for years refused to do just that, until his civilian bosses helped him revise his views and then ultimately the Police Commission voted unanimously to implement a policy that use of force incidents that have video must be released to the public after 45 days, except in rare cases .
So the LAPD did just that, but what was controversial about it was this. They basically produced a 17 minute video presentation, edited, with graphics, maps, narration, and information they thought would be helpful in understanding the ''complexities'' of policing.
What some community members wanted was much simpler, the ''raw'' or unedited footage so people could draw their own conclusions, and in this particular case involving the in custody death of a Jose Chavez after being bean bagged and tased, his attorney said the video was ''heavily edited and slanted'' in the LAPD's favor.
So the simple release of video did not happen, ( there were multiple officers there and it's not clear how many hours of video we're talking about ) without the LAPD's added touches, but maybe in the future there will be less production value and more of the raw, graphic, unedited action.
Chief Beck, in his last few days, did say he's open to suggestions.