Posted on 02/08/2005 9:24:17 PM PST by SmithL
Los Angeles -- Mayor James Hahn on Tuesday said he was angry and frustrated over the fatal police shooting of a 13-year-old black youth at the end of a stolen-car chase and he urged an immediate revision of Police Department policy to limit when officers can shoot at moving vehicles.
Hahn said he wanted a "swift, thorough, transparent" investigation into the killing of Devin Brown, who was shot early Sunday when he reportedly backed a stolen car into a police car after a short pursuit.
The killing angered residents and community leaders in South Los Angeles where the shooting occurred. A large group of people demonstrated at the scene Tuesday evening, holding hands in an intersection.
"I am joining in the anger and the frustration, and I stand here with great concern over this latest use of force," the mayor said earlier at a news conference.
About 200 people attended a Tuesday night rally at a church just blocks from the shooting. Nearly two dozen angry speakers denounced the police department and urged the community to find solutions to both gang violence and police brutality.
Rev. James Lawson, chief executive of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said he was considering holding the group's next conference in Los Angeles, but told the audience his organization would boycott coming here until there was "justice."
The killing was denounced by community leaders during a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission, the panel that serves as the Police Department's civilian overseers.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Right, let's make it LEGAL to steal cars and ILLEGAL to hurt guys who steal cars. Barbara-in-Wonderland-land indeed it is.
Why on earth would cops go into that place??
I was thinking what the outrage would have been if one of the Officers had been pinned or run over by the "boy". Also, what if this person was a dangerous felon with a history of violence and criminal activity? No, it was a thirteen year old, so the double standard must apply right?
What a load of crap. Break the law, pay the consequences.
This just in... if you don't break the law, the odds of being shot by the police decrease considerably.
Cops need to just back off and quit policing this area. Let em take care of themselves.
I suppose they wanted the cop to let the little bastard run over him before he could shoot. Even years ago when I lived in California you were careful when you went into south LA.
They are both morons. I still remember Hahn on 9/12/01, holding a press conference about " potential "hatecrimes" against TROP. Not a word about protecting the city from the jihad vermin.
Bratton? I can see why Rudy fired him in NY. He goes where the wind blows.
Blah, blah, blah, "justice", blah, blah, blah, "peace", blah, blah, blah, "angry", blah, blah, blah, etc., etc., etc. SOS.
["I am joining in the anger and the frustration, and I stand here with great concern over this latest use of force,"]
This is an extremely irresponsible thing to say. If the demonstrations become violent, he will have some culpability for it for feeding the "anger and frustration".
Hey Mayor, I used to be a cop (L.A. Co. Sheriff's Deputy), and I worked the Vermont area next to your 77th division. Anybody that tried to run me over would have been shot too... By the way, I was paid as a Distinguished expert with my pistol, I'da killed whoever I shot. I practiced nothing but head shots as a cheap form of life insurance for myself and my family.
There seems to be a lot of 'blind' support for police officers here at FP. Do they ever make mistakes? How about waiting for more of the facts to come out before deciding who is at fault?
Like Hahn and that idiot, Bratton?
Nope, attempting to run over the cop was more than enough justification for getting shot.
[How about waiting for more of the facts to come out before deciding who is at fault?]
The LA mayor doesn't seem inclined to caution before he denounces the police force to the news media. (see #12)
Let's see.....13 year old steals a car and leads cops on a CHASE through neighborhood.....COP shoots at 13 year old with car, obviously the car must have been careening near HIS own squad car at the time he shot.....HHMMMM....who do I first support.....HHMMMMM...../sarcasm
And what were the reasons for the errant rounds? Unknown details the press could care less about. Nice of them to get a sound bite of the officer's chief's "words of support" for one of his men during an ongoing investigation. I doubt the officer is relishing the fact that he killed someone. If the officer did something wrong then he'll realize the consequences.
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