LAPD Acts Against Elite Police Squad

Associated Press and CBS ^ | May 7, 2007

[bd476]

LAPD Acts Against Elite Police Squad

Los Angeles Police Chief Says Elite Officers In May Day Melee Off The Street, Will Face Consequences

LOS ANGELES, May 7, 2007


This video image provided by KVEA/Telemundo
shows KCAL cameraman Carl Stein on the ground
during a police response during an immigrants
rights rally, Tuesday May 1, 2007, in Los Angeles.
(AP Photo/KVEA/Telemundo)

---

(AP) Police Chief William Bratton said Sunday that up to 60 members of an elite squad that swarmed into a park and fired rubber bullets during a May Day immigration rally are no longer on the street.

Bratton said he spent the weekend viewing video of the MacArthur Park incident and he said LAPD failures were widespread with officers from the top on down culpable.

"I'm not going to defend the indefensible," Bratton told journalists groups during a meeting at a television studio in Hollywood. "Things were done that shouldn't have been done."

Journalists were among those roughed up as Metropolitan Division's B Platoon moved through MacArthur and fired 148 rubber bullets to break up what had been a peaceful and lawful immigration rally.

Police said they moved in after rocks and bottles were thrown at them by 30 to 40 agitators, he said.

The Metropolitan Division is the city's premier police squad, made up of experienced officers who have extensive training in crowd control.

Bratton said up to 60 members of the Metro's B Platoon are no longer in the field. Additionally, he said, some officers will "in all likelihood" not return to the Metropolitan Division.

"Some of this will be career-impacting," Bratton said, adding that imposition of permanent discipline will await completion of the Police Department investigation.

Journalist organizations asked why officers ignored LAPD policies toward the news media worked out after reporters were assaulted during the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

A 2002 agreement called for designation of a safe spot for reporters covering news events. LAPD spokeswoman Mary Grady acknowledged reporters were not given "a designated safe spot" at MacArthur Park.

"There appears to have been here a failure to communicate," Press Photographers Association local president John McCoy said.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

“More than likely some media egos just thought ‘That doesn’t apply to us.’”

I don’t understand where this sentiment is coming from.

Nobody ever heard of Carl Stein. He’s the poor guy that has to carry the heavy camera around on his shoulder. He’s not on TV. He’s not even listed in the credits. I don’t see why you think he’d have an ego problem.

What if police ordered Republican’s protesting the Florida recount to disperse, but a TV news camera man chose to risk arrest in order to film what was happening. Wouldn’t your inclination be to think it was a civic service?

[cont.]

[monkapotamus]

[ConsistentLibertarian]

I’m sorry, what were you saying about how the police treated journalists covering the event?

[ConsistentLibertarian]

“More than likely some media egos just thought ‘That doesn’t apply to us.’”

The same rules don’t apply to journalists. LAPD policy required the officers to direct journalists towards a designated safe area.

It’s common sense — the goal is to prevent/stop a riot, not to to prevent/stop news coverage of the event.

[Sarajevo]

Two sentences catch my eye:

Journalists were among those roughed up as Metropolitan Division's B Platoon moved through MacArthur and fired 148 rubber bullets to break up what had been a peaceful and lawful immigration rally.

Police said they moved in after rocks and bottles were thrown at them by 30 to 40 agitators, he said.

Now, my question is: Was this a peaceful rally or not? Was anybody there who can answer that question? I'll reserve comment until it's clarified.

[at bay]

What if police ordered Republican’s protesting the Florida recount to disperse, but a TV news camera man chose to risk arrest

If he was in an area ordered to disperse, he is an idiot to stay put. Put the zoom lens on and get out of the immediate vicinity.

[at bay]

One thing’s for sure- It didn’t wind up like Florence and whatever that cross street was when LAPD took no action post King verdict. Here they took action. I condemned that inaction. Haven’t heard anyone was hospitalized even overnight here, so big deal.

I am the first to condemn police brutality, but rubber bullets, mace, no lingering injuries. Now an out of control cop breaking kneecaps, a jailer injuring wrists by using cuffs like vise grips, a much different story.

Have your cameraman show a belly welt, li’l miss hussy anchorlady but only if you also show a welt I can make on your neck in 30 seconds of puckering. Neither sting for long.

[Mojave]

If the police had wanted to arrest Carl Stein, they could have asked him to set his news camera down on the ground slowly, with no sudden movements, and place his hands behind his back so he could be cuffed and taken into custody.

They weren't arresting him, they were clearing a park during a violent riot of illegal aliens.

[metesky]

Sophistry.

[CalvaryJohn]

They should be disciplined for not kicking enough ass.

[NRA2BFree]

"I'm not going to defend the indefensible," Bratton told journalists groups during a meeting at a television studio in Hollywood. "Things were done that shouldn't have been done."

Yeah, like bottles and rocks being thrown at the cops. LA is going to find it's mayor and police chief having to police the city, at a time when gang activity is at an all time high. I would laugh until I cried if the police union had the entire force walk out on them. Just the thought of it is amusing. By the time it was all said and done, they would beg these same cops to come back and promise them a raise. It's NOT the cops who are wrong, it's the criminal illegal aliens.

[Nextrush]

If they had thrown those things at an abortion clinic or a gay club, it would have been a “violent” demonstration.

Since it was for a politically correct cause like illegal immigration, throwing things at cops becomes “peaceful.”

[at bay]

For the citizens and lawful residents-

“or the right of the people peaceably to assemble” (amend 1)

Peacefulness over, assembly over. Head’em up, move’em out.

[sgtbono2002]

Imbedded journalists have caused us more trouble in Iraq than enough,now they want to cause the same trouble here.

[Moonman62]

A 2002 agreement called for designation of a safe spot for reporters covering news events. LAPD spokeswoman Mary Grady acknowledged reporters were not given "a designated safe spot" at MacArthur Park. "There appears to have been here a failure to communicate," Press Photographers Association local president John McCoy said.

Did they ask for a safe spot? My guess is they wanted to be close to the troublemakers to encourage them.

[JimRed]

The first rule of crowd control police work is “get the guy with the video camera”! Self protection, you know.

[caver]

I’d like to know what’s so “elite” about them? What are they doing when they aren’t busting heads?

[THEUPMAN]

I can’t believe some of the comments on here.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Journalists were among those roughed up . . .

Hang on while I look for my violin.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

But, but, these people were Mexicans. The police should be able to do anything they want! (/sarcasm)