LAPD Removes 60 Best Trained Officers for Misconduct

LAPD Chief William Bratton pulled 60 of the cities best trained officers from the streets after watching videos of the May Day Immigration mayhem. Officers from the Metropolitan Division, the city's premiere police squad with extensive training in crowd control fired at least 240 “nonlethal projectiles” and beat demonstrators with batons.

News footage that has received substantial air play around the country shows many protesters being chased and assaulted by officers as the demonstrators attempted to flee the armed attackers. Chief Bratton in referring to the brutality by officers earlier in the week stated it was the “worst incident of this type I have ever encountered in 37 years” of law enforcement work.  

“I’m not going to defend the indefensible,” Bratton told reporters after viewing video of the incident, some of whom had been roughed up along with demonstrators at the event.

Officers Mental State In Question

One has to wonder about the emotional stability of a person that will fire a sometimes lethal, “nonlethal” weapon at an unarmed person at extremely close ,or someone that will hit an unarmed person on the back of the head with a baton.

At some point the law and government have to be removed from the equation for this madness to stop. Officers need to realize they are here to serve and protect. They need to be thankful for their jobs and the opportunity to fulfill this function in society.

Citizens need to be given the power to monitor all aspects of an officer’s job performance with complete transparency and permanently remove officers such as these for their misconduct. Although Chief Bratton has moved in the right direction by removing these officers and temporarily protecting Los Angeles citizens, I suspect most will return to active duty in due course with the exception of a few sacrificial lambs.

Changes Must Be Extreme and Far Reaching

Citizens need more control in a department's hiring and firing. This will help us as a country move out of the state of mistrust and fear we now live in and move into an era where qualified police officers receive the funds and training they need to do their jobs. This can be partially accomplished by forming citizen ran over site committies with real power. After regaining our trust, officers can then earn our respect and be treated in kind as any valued and trusted employee should.

SACPD