Posted on 05/29/2007 4:04:47 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Police Chief William Bratton said Tuesday that a breakdown in command at an immigration rally led officers to use force to disperse a crowd, swing batons and fire hundreds of rubber bullets at demonstrators and journalists.
"It was quite apparent ... it all broke down," Bratton said after the city's civilian Police Commission was given a minute-by-minute account of the May 1 melee.
Bratton previously has acknowledged that a breakdown in command and communication led to the clash at MacArthur Park. The confrontation was broadcast on television stations worldwide.
Police said they moved on protesters after being pelted with rocks and bottles. Nobody was seriously hurt but dozens of citizen complaints were filed. Bratton has said the clash embarrassed the department.
On Tuesday, Bratton said there was confusion over who the incident commander was and that approval to use non-lethal projectiles was given by a commander who was a block away from the side of the park where officers opened fire. He also faulted poor communication and planning.
"We can do better than that. We have done better than that," Bratton said.
In a preliminary after-action report, Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonald took the five-member Police Commission step by step through events before and during the melee. He presented a slide show with audio of police radio traffic that highlighted the chaos before and after officers moved in on demonstrators.
Officers reported being targeted by "agitators" throwing rocks and bottles.
"Guys are getting hit and guys are getting hurt," one officer reported.
"We're getting killed over here," another said.
"Rocks and bottles are continuing," said one report before officers swept the north side of the park. "We have to push."
It's been nearly a month and department investigators still haven't answered a number of questions about the melee.
It's still unclear, for example, who gave the order to clear the entire park instead of a small section where troublemakers were most active. A captain was technically supposed to direct operations at the scene, but a commander was making many of the decisions.
Also left unexplained was why that order was even given. Doing so only helped push the troublemakers into the crowd of peaceful protesters on the north side of the park.
"Had a strategy been developed to get those (agitators) surgically removed from the crowd, then certainly we anticipate the outcome would have been a lot different," McDonald said.
Meanwhile, the police order to disperse - given overhead by a helicopter and difficult to hear -was itself illegal, McDonald said. Police failed to tell the crowds where to go, how much time they had to leave and the law under which the order was being issued.
Tuesday's presentation served as an update to the department's still-unfinished report evaluating operations and planning, one of several reviews and investigations under way.
The department also is conducting an internal affairs probe into complaints against officers and their use of force. An independent review has been undertaken by the investigative arm of the Police Commission, a five-member board of mayoral appointees that sets policy for the Police Department.
The FBI has opened a preliminary investigation to determine if a civil rights inquiry into officers' conduct was warranted.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents the department's 9,400 officers, said budget cutbacks were to blame for lapses in training and called for "constant, updated" training procedures.
League president Bob Baker says training is "the backbone of police work" and called for a clear use-of-force policy for employing batons in crowd-control situations.
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Just the kind of law biding citizens this country needs, eh?
Must be real fun to work for a Chief like Bratton.
“The FBI has opened a preliminary investigation to determine if a civil rights inquiry into officers’ conduct was warranted.”
Illegals first....Americans last
Criminal agitators first....cops last
Brave New World.........................
Officers reported being targeted by “agitators” throwing rocks and bottles.
“Guys are getting hit and guys are getting hurt,” one officer reported.
“We’re getting killed over here,” another said.
“Rocks and bottles are continuing,” said one report before officers swept the north side of the park. “We have to push.”
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what was that thing the Presidnet said, something about treating folks with “dignity and respect”... the same kind they treat our laws and borders and LEOs with, I reckun is what he meant.
Dignity and respect like when the demonstrators dumped urine on the officers from the 2nd story building.
Officers reported being targeted by “agitators” throwing rocks and bottles.
“Guys are getting hit and guys are getting hurt,” one officer reported.
“We’re getting killed over here,” another said.
“Rocks and bottles are continuing,” said one report before officers swept the north side of the park. “We have to push.”
I’m guessing they don’t train for being attacked like this since the command “broke down.”
Can we send this east coaster home.
Do not attempt this in Mexico. Foreigners are prohibited from protesting down there. And if you incite a riot??? The State Department will not go to bat for you.
Is Brattons real name George W. ?
No doubt.
The head of recruitment for LAPD resigned on Friday, and an investigator was fire for falsifying background checks on recruits. One recruit was fired at the academy for something in his background.
And the LA City Council reduced the recruiting budget by 66% next year. They are never going to make 10000 officers.
“Had a strategy been developed to get those (agitators) surgically removed from the crowd, then certainly we anticipate the outcome would have been a lot different,” McDonald said. “
Welcome to “bizarro world”.
Thanks!
FRom the La Daily News
In pursuit of recruits
Tighter ad budget tests LAPD drive to fill ranks
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_6009847
Prospects get help to shape up
Even as it scrambles to add 600 officers by 2009, the LAPD has slashed its recruiting budget by nearly 70 percent, which some fear will hamper its ability to compete for top-quality applicants. While the 2007-08 budget the City Council approved last week boosts funding for the Los Angeles Police Department by 4.5 percent - to $1.2 billion - it also cuts money for recruiting from $3.2 million to $1 million.
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