ALPR Camera Initiative for Cheviot Hills

We have launched our ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) Camera Initiative. After a thorough review of the various options, we have determined that the best option is to partner with the Los Angeles Police Foundation to install a Motorola system. The LAPF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (www.supportlapd.org) that provide resources and programs that help the LAPD perform at their highest level. By working with the LAPF, donations may be tax deductible as a charitable donation, and we have an agreement with LAPF that all funds donated for this ALPR camera initiative will be used only for ALPR cameras in Cheviot Hills.

LAPD requires hard-wired cameras to make sure they work both day and night and at different speeds.  The Motorola Vigilant L5F cameras will go on public property and will be hard-wired directly to a Bureau of Street Lighting or Department of Transportation pole. The Motorola cameras can feed images and information directly to on-board computers in LAPD vehicles.

This agreement will cover cameras/equipment for a period of 5 years. This gets us through 2029, after which we will only need to pay for cellular data.

Where can I donate?

You can donate to this initiative by visiting:

https://losangelespolicefoundation-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1332570

How do these cameras work?

Here is a short video that explains how these cameras work:

https://youtu.be/LnovknVA2cE?si=Y7YZcAND9H9PF5FW

My block wants to purchase our own ALPR cameras, how does this integrate with these cameras?

Although LAPD can access data from both Flock Safety cameras and Motorola cameras, only the Motorola cameras upload real-time data directly into LAPD vehicles. This was one of the deciding factors for our selecting the Motorola system. Purchasing additional cameras for individual blocks (whether from Flock Safety or Motorola) may provide residents more peace of mind and may provide additional information to help LAPD to solve crimes on your block, but we believe that the best solution for the community as a whole is to have cameras placed around the perimeter of Cheviot Hills thereby capturing all vehicles entering and exiting the area.

What is the process for getting these approved and installed?

Motorola is ordering and setting aside the equipment. Once the $184,000 has been raised, the Foundation will pay for the equipment. At that time, the Foundation will begin the process of approval from the City, which in their experience usually takes 3-4 months.  First it has to go to the Police Commission, who already is aware of this initiative. After that, the Mayor’s office needs to approve. Mayor Bass is in support of this technology. Then, Public Safety has to grant approval. Finally, the full City Council has to vote to approve.  After we receive all of the appropriate approvals, the cameras will be installed on already identified Bureau of Street Lighting poles.

What happens if the community cannot raise all of the money?

It depends on how close we are to the goal. We may need to scale back the number of cameras to reduce the total cost. Alternatively, if we have to abandon the project for any reason, the Foundation will return the money to donors.

Where are these cameras going to be located?

Cameras will be placed in strategic locations around the perimeter of the greater Cheviot Hills area.  The locations were selected with input from LAPD, Motorola, and others with law enforcement experience.

Many cars used in committing crimes don’t have license plates or use stolen plates, are the cameras still useful?

According to LAPD, most cars committing these crimes do have license plates, albeit some are stolen plates or the cars themselves are stolen. But if the same plates are being used in multiple locations, the ALPRs will still be useful to notify LAPD when a vehicle with those particular plates enters (or exits) our neighborhood.  Even for vehicles without plates, the ALPRs can still be used to identify vehicles using other information such as the make and model of a vehicle, distinctive bumper stickers, or other distinctive markings (or damage) on the vehicle.

What happens after 5 years?

These cameras will be the property of LAPD. At the end of the 5 year term they may absorb the costs of operation or they may come back to the community to pay for the cellular fee ($250/camera/year).

Since I am supporting this camera initiative, why do I need to pay my annual dues?

The majority of the annual dues the HOA collects are used to pay for the APS security patrol around Cheviot Hills. But with our annual dues at only $100 and only 35% of our 1,400 homes even paying their annual dues, the HOA simply does not have the financial resources to pay for these ALPR cameras without substantial assistance from the community.

My employer does matching funds. What is the process?

The Los Angeles Police Foundation is eligible for employer matching funds. The process for accessing those funds varies from company to company. Typically, a donor makes a donation and submits the Foundation information to the company to verify the donation.  If companies need the Tax ID# for the Foundation, it is 95-4700442.

Letter sent to the community (link here)

Other Announcements

Brandon is a Cheviot Hills resident since 2011. His children attend the neighborhood schools, and he volunteers to make a difference in the neighborhood. Brandon is a trial attorney with a practice located in Century City.

Eugene was raised in the suburbs of Boston and moved to L.A. in 2004 to teach in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He attended graduate school at UCLA and Loyola Marymount and has lived in West L.A. for the better part of the past twenty years. He moved to Cheviot Hills in 2021 with his wife (Iris) when their daughter (Rei) was born. They love riding bikes to Cheviot Hills Park and taking walks with their Bernedoodle, Augi. They think Cheviot Hills is the best neighborhood in L.A. and look forward to getting to know more of their neighbors.

Andrew has lived in Cheviot Hills (on Dunleer Drive) for over thirteen years and has lived in West Los Angeles for more than two decades.  During this time, he has been actively involved in land use and environmental issues throughout the Los Angeles region as an environmental-land use attorney at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. Andrew and his wife, Rebekah, are raising one son, who currently attends ASTEME Academy. He is actively involved in land use and filming issues in the neighborhood.

Steve has been a resident of Cheviot Hills since 2004 and is a current CHHOA Board member. He has been active in the community as past President and Board Chair of Friends of Overland (10 years), a volunteer coach and Board member for AYSO West LA Region 70 (15 years) and the Sister Stella Foundation (St. Paul the Apostle School) Board member (5 years). Steve also serves on the Board of Directors for various nonprofit organizations focused on community development and affordable housing in Los Angeles and California. Professionally, he is a Senior Vice President of the Community Development Financing Division for California Bank & Trust Century City. He resides in Cheviot Hills with wife, Danielle Prunier, and four children, Olivia, Ava, Steven and Gabriel.

Larry and his wife, Teri, along with their two daughters, have lived in Cheviot Hills since 1998.  Larry has been a member of the CHHOA board since 2013.  He is an attorney specializing in insurance related disputes and an avid baseball fan.

Greg has been a resident of Cheviot Hills since 1995 and a member of the Board of the Cheviot Hills Home Owners’ Association for over a decade. He has been involved in many CHHOA activities over the years and hopes to continue to address and represent the needs and concerns of the community.

Michael has lived in Cheviot Hills with his wife and two children since 2009 and has been on the Board since 2013. He is an attorney specializing in employment law while his wife is an IT Project Manager. His kids are both alumni of Overland Avenue Elementary and they spend countless hours at Palms Park and the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center. His primary interest in serving on the Board has been to address the safety of the neighborhood, as he has experienced firsthand the effects of being a victim of crime. He is a Neighborhood Watch block captain and can be regularly spotted walking their dog Gracie around the neighborhood. 

Mark has been on the Cheviot Hills HOA Board since his family moved to the neighborhood, and loves working with his neighbors to make sure Cheviot Hills remains the best neighborhood in Los Angeles. He is an attorney based in Century City with his wife and two sons and a golden retriever named Sunny. 

Margaret has been a resident of Cheviot Hills since 1995, and a resident of the Westside since 1987. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford, and received a law degree from UCLA. Margaret is active in community organizations, and volunteers for a homeless outreach program and a program to read to disadvantaged elementary school children. She has two children who attended neighborhood schools, including the Lycée Français. She is an attorney with a practice based in Century City.

Renée came of age in a 400-unit apartment complex in New York City. Cheviot Hills has been her home since 1974. She and her husband Michael raised their three daughters in the neighborhood and have witnessed many local changes. Renée is a speech pathologist and audiologist whose early career focused on hard of hearing adults. Later she transitioned to wear multiple hats in the family business that distributed industrial food processing and packaging equipment. Michael and Renée sold their business and retired in 2013. In recent years she has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth, a PPLA Guild member and treasurer of her congregation’s sisterhood.

Cindy is a native of Los Angeles. She has lived in Cheviot Hills since 1991 with her husband Michael. She has raised her two children in Cheviot Hills and was an active member of the Overland Elementary, Palms Middle School, Pali High and Marlborough School communities. She joined the CHHOA board in 2016 and has been secretary since 2017. She is a member of the LAPD WLA Community-Police Advisory Board. She volunteers her time at The People Concern and is a team member of the Los Angeles Safety and Preparedness Fair.

Marty has lived in Cheviot Hills for 48 years. He is a CPA and has been treasurer of the Cheviot Hills Homeowners for many years. His main areas of focus as part of the Cheviot Hills Board are crime, traffic, development, and rezoning as these issues currently present big challenges to the community.

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter.

Jim has lived in Cheviot Hills for over 20 years. He is a real estate attorney on the westside. He has two daughters. James loves the architectural features of the homes in Cheviot, the walkability of the neighborhood, its proximity to restaurants, shopping and cultural amenities, but most of all, the friendliness of our fellow Cheviot residents. His work on the board is devoted to addressing traffic issues, enhancing the landscaped medians in Cheviot, and working with cellular telephone companies to address issues related to cellular telephone installations in Cheviot.

Bob has been a resident of Cheviot Hills since 1994, and a resident of the Westside since 1984. He has been a member of the Cheviot Hills HOA Board of Directors since 2011, and currently serves as the Board’s president. He received his undergraduate degree from UCLA, and received a law degree from USC. Bob and his wife, Pam, have two children who attended local schools, including Overland Elementary School. He is an attorney with a practice based in Century City.

Marcie is a native of West Los Angeles. She has lived in Cheviot Hills since 1998 with her husband Jon where they raised their two children. Marcie has served one term on the CHHOA board.  During that term, she worked on redesigning and launching our updated CHHOA website, headed the 2024 membership drive and chaired the Centennial Celebration Committee.