INGLEWOOD – An Inglewood police sergeant is accused of assaulting a resident that was caught on cellphone camera.
Kafshi Bennett filed a claim against the City for alleged personal injury; assault, abuse of authority that was denied on the July 11, 2023, regular city council agenda.
City Attorney Ken Campos requested settlement authority in the amount of $20,000 which the council approved on April 16.
According to the complaint filed on February 14, 2024, Bennett alleged that on Jan 10, 2023, he entered the Inglewood Police Department police station seeking assistance when he encountered Sergeant Bryan Hand who presented in an “aggressive and intimidating” manner and demanded to know why he was there.
Bennett further alleged that Sgt. Hand was attempting to deny him entrance into the station and began to shove him which resulted in him twisting his ankle.
“I told him to not put his hands on me or he would be sued and he said he didn’t care,” stated Bennett.
It was noted that Inglewood police officers are not issued body-worn cameras, so he recorded the encounter himself.
“Officers have advocated for body-worn cameras to no avail,” said an Inglewood officer who requested anonymity. “Body-worn cameras aren’t just for the safety of the residents but the officers as well.”
In the South Bay, Hawthorne Police Department (HPD) was the first to be outfitted with body-worn camera back in 2014.
“I thought it was important because it held accountability on both sides,” said former Hawthorne Mayor Chris Brown who initiated the program. “The cameras were ultimately provided to the department at no cost to taxpayers, however, to my understanding they have been removed since 2016.”
Hawthorne Mayor Alex Vargas could not be reached for comment on why the body-camera program was removed.
In 2023, the Department of Justice awarded HPD $53,080 in Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds which they have yet to accept.
“The aim of this grant is to ensure the continued efficacy of the Body Worn Cameras (BWC) system employed by the Hawthorne Police Department. Retention of this system is pivotal for enabling the department to investigate a broad spectrum of crimes. The BWCs serve to streamline investigative procedures, enhancing overall efficiency.”
“Additionally, the department’s existing BWC system simplifies information dissemination amongst other law enforcement entities, the legal community, media outlets, and the general public. One of its standout benefits is amplified transparency, which promotes increased trust in the department’s actions from the public.”
Both the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and Los Angeles Police Department’s have outfitted their officers with body-worn cameras.
“My first week in office, we started working towards the implementation of body-worn cameras for (the sheriff’s department),” said former Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
The Sheriff’s Department began issuing the body-worn cameras in late 2020.
Bennet was seeking $360,000 in damages.