Money Approved for Cop Car Cameras

The Santa Barbara City Council has authorized the expenditure of up to $208,000 to install video cameras in city cop cars. The absence of such cameras came to light in lengthy articles written by freelance reporter Peter Lance two years ago excoriating the department for alleged unethical practices pertaining to drunk driving enforcement. The County Grand Jury subsequently issued a report questioning why the city cop cars were without cameras. At the same meeting, city councilmembers were given a duck-and-cover drill in how to respond in the event an armed assailant opened fire at them while on the dais. Because the dais itself has a bulletproof facade, councilmembers were instructed to crouch under the dais for cover.