A Ring doorbell equipped with a camera | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Amazon-owned Ring used Los Angeles police officers as brand ambassadors for its security cameras, providing free products and discount codes in exchange for recommendations, the Los Angeles Times reported. Ring gave at least 100 LAPD officers free devices, which helped the department create a network of surveillance cameras, making it easier to obtain video footage, according to the LA Times.
Amazon did not immediately reply to a request for comment Thursday, but a spokesperson told the LA Times the company ended Pillar, its police officer ambassador program in 2019, and “stopped donating to law enforcement and encouraging police to promote our products years ago.” The LAPD did not immediately reply to a request for comment, but a…
