City council OKs LAPD 'robot dog' donation

City council approves 'robot dog' for LAPD

The Los Angeles City Council approved the donation of a robot dog from Boston Dynamics to the LAPD, which the department said will be used on SWAT, hazmat and search and rescue calls

LOS ANGELES - Looks like the "robot dog" is officially getting a forever home.

Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted 8-4 to accept the controversial donation of a robotic dog for Los Angeles police.

The high-tech gift was built by Boston Dynamics and was offered as a donation to the LAPD's Metropolitan Division by the Los Angeles Police Foundation.

Critics say the "Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicle" would become a tool for the LAPD to harass and conduct surveillance of certain communities of color.

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LAPD representatives say the device would only be used in SWAT situations, hazardous materials, or search and rescue operations.

During the Tuesday, vote, an amendment introduced by Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky to ensure the LAPD provide quarterly reports regarding the deployment of the device, outcomes of the deployment and any issues pertaining to the use of it.

The council will also "closely monitor" the robotic dog and has the power to modify the deployment policy or suspend the use of the device at any time.

Council members Heather Hutt, Curren Price, Nithya Raman and Hugo Soto- Martinez voted against the donation. Council members Eunisses Hernandez and Marqueece Harris-Dawson were absent from Tuesday's City Council meeting.

City News Service contributed to this report.