Commission rules officer violated policy when he fired at teen

AP ^ | 1/31/6 | PAUL CHAVEZ

[SmithL]

Los Angeles -- The civilian commission that oversees the Police Department ruled Tuesday that an officer acted outside policy last year when he fatally shot a 13-year-old boy who rammed a patrol car after a short chase.

The Feb. 6, 2005, shooting of Devin Brown prompted protests in the South Los Angeles area where the shooting occurred and the Police Commission's ruling was being closely watched by community activists who have accused the Los Angeles Police Department of racism.

Brown was black and Officer Steven Garcia, who fired 10 rounds and struck the boy six times, is Hispanic. The commission said he should be punished.

[mosquewatch.com]

A teenage passenger fled the car when it crashed, but Brown threw the car in reverse and rammed a patrol car, prompting Garcia to open fire. He was using the vehicle as a weapon. The Cop did nothing wrong. Jeff

[blinachka]

This is nuts! The car was reported stolem, the kid flees from the police and then when cornered tries to hurt the officer and they are punishing the police officer? Unbelievable!!

[ncountylee]

Tight grouping?

[Claytonbridge]

I guess the cop was supposed to jump out and try to Mace him into submission as the "suspect" hit the police car.

AND, I guess, he could have tried his Taser through the window if the Mace didn't work. By then he'd be running at 70 mph beside him.

Whats wrong with this picture?

[kromike]

He's a protected minority/victim class/voting bloc.

His "rights" supercede all common sense.

[mosquewatch.com]

No, no, no. The Cop should have understood the teens upbringing, and what in his life caused him to commit crimes. The Gestapo Police need to have more understanding with the criminals, it's also obvious the Police force needs more friendly ammunition as well. /sarc off ;)

[Cicero]

This won't play well with Hispanics.

The powers that be in LA may find they have gone a bridge too far on this one.

[MissEdie]

So what do these people want? More dead police officers? Would they have been happy if that 13 year old had killed the officer?

[sgtbono2002]

Obviously this was at close range, The police officer fired 10 times and only hit the kid 6 times. He needs a reprimand for wasting 4 bullets.

[babygene]

"The car was reported stolem, the kid flees from the police and then when cornered tries to hurt the officer and they are punishing the police officer?"

One would have to know all of the facts... And we don't. The people who made this determination perhaps did.

Suppose for instance that the kid did indeed back into the police car, but the police car was only inches from the kids vehicle? The report would still be accurate, but the officer might not have been at any risk at all. Assuming a bumper to bumper collision, there might not have even been damage to the police car.

I of course don't know if this was the situation, but it's a possible scenario and you can't tell from the article.

[opinionator]

Don't mess with the 'Every shooting is justified' crowd.

[Claytonbridge]

You are right. He should have gotten close enough to read the tatoos on his fingers, wrists, neck, etc. That would help the officer to make his decision to shoot.....or kiss him into submission!

[printhead]

It sounds like he needs a reprimand for too small calibre.

[Domangart]

Yes he did. He missed four times.

[absalom01]

Wny anyone is still willing to work for the LAPD is beyond me.

IAD, no friend of the beat cop, investigated and found that Garcia acted appropriately. Now the pols on the police commission want a pound of flesh from the officer.

Disgusting.

[blinachka]

Hmmm...sounds suspect to me. Seems like someone in the LAPD is pandering...