LAPD officers won't be charged in MacArthur Park melee

JohnDoe2

LAPD officers won't be charged in MacArthur Park melee

Prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to prove that any of the 30 officers who were investigated violated the law when using force during the 2007 May Day immigration rally.

By Richard Winton and Andrew Blankstein
October 31, 2009

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office will not file criminal charges against any of the LAPD officers who discharged rubberized bullets and wielded batons during the 2007 May Day melee at MacArthur Park, officials announced Friday.

After a lengthy review, prosecutors said there is insufficient evidence to prove that any of the 30 officers who were investigated violated the law when using force, although some might have used "questionable tactics."

The melee, which occurred at the conclusion of a pro- immigration rally and received national attention, resulted from poor police training, leadership and communication, prosecutors said. Their finding echoed the Los Angeles Police Department's own scathing report on the officers' actions.

Officers were videotaped wielding batons and shooting less-than-lethal rubberized bullets in an attempt to disperse the mostly peaceful crowd after a small group of agitators confronted police. Dozens of protesters and journalists were injured as officers cleared the park.

The department's "planning, tactical and command failures" were the backdrop for the officers' actions against "both violent protesters and nonviolent protesters and media personnel," prosecutors said in their report. "The media had innocently and unwittingly positioned themselves in an area directly in the path of officers attempting to clear the park."

In the immediate aftermath, Police Chief William J. Bratton removed a deputy chief and commander from their posts. Deputy Chief Caylor "Lee" Carter retired shortly thereafter.

Bratton also said he planned to discipline several officers and called for the termination of others for their roles in the melee. But internal disciplinary panels gave no officer more than a 20-day suspension. A small group of officers, however, were demoted, according to their attorney.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles City Council agreed to pay nearly $13 million to people injured or mistreated in the May Day melee.

Carol Sobel, a lawyer for some of the plaintiffs, said that although the LAPD admitted errors in the incident that the "the whole approach toward disciplining officers . . . has been a total whitewash. They could have filed charges against the officers that were seen repeatedly beating people."

But in their report, prosecutors concluded that "not every push or shove amounts to excessive force. We cannot establish that any particular officer's actions were unreasonable or without lawful necessity in light of the tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving circumstances."

They said that tactical gear worn by police made it difficult or impossible to identify specific officers, which is key to any prosecution.

Prosecutors noted that 20 officers and supervisors were subject to department punishment.

Los Angeles Police Protective League President Paul Weber praised the district attorney's review, saying that it "sought only truth and justice, and was not influenced by any political agenda."

richard.winton@latimes.com

andrew.blankstein @latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-melee31-2009oct31,0,5092137.story
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DON'T REWARD THE CRIMINAL ACTIONS OF MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS

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miguelina · ALIPAC Super Hero Joined: Oct 01, 2007 Posts: 7414

About time common sense prevailed! Now how do they get back the $13 million payout? Can those officers who were suspended sue the organizers of this "peaceful" Rolling Eyes

march?
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"If you love our nation, STOP illegal immigration!"

uniteasone · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:14 pm Post subject:

Amazes me that these same people that complain on how they are treated in America,have the right to protest ,but yet give way to a violence (said to be a small group).

And as you can see the million or so Americans that protested in Washington were very reserved and polite when it came to leaving any type of litter in the area.

Glad to hear they found the officers free of any charges
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"When you have knowledge,you have a responsibility to do better"_ Paula Johnson

"I did then what I knew to do. When I knew better,I did better"_ Maya Angelou

ELE · ALIPAC Super Hero Joined: Oct 25, 2007 Posts: 5730

It seems obama is so fond of reparations, perhaps he should give the officers reparations for the false charges lodged against them. But make sure the reparations come from obama's bank account and not our tax dollars. smile

JohnDoe2 · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 11:43 pm Post subject:

jean · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:56 am Post subject:

Added to the Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-4644--0-0.html
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Why aren't our immigration laws enforced?

PatrioticMe · ALIPAC Hero Elite Joined: Dec 17, 2008 Posts: 2016

I wonder which cartel owns Bratton?...But after reading things like this I don't wonder why California is broke and begging. Anybody see those commercials they run all the time about vacationing in California? I laugh my butt off...but it's not funny when the cause of the problem is considered. Just that that moron thinks anyone really wants to visit that state. Might as well go to mexico and be kidnapped, tortured and murdered for my vaction! At least things'll be cheaper there until they get me. lol lol lol

Dixie · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:05 pm Post subject:

Macarthur Park Mini riot -- The Other Side Of The Story!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCWNe0pBTI
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Englishmen, who have no right in this kingdom of France, the King of Heaven sends you word and warning...depart into your own country... Joan of Arc.

JohnDoe2 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject:

JohnDoe2 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject:

cclarkkent · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

I am glad to see they were cleared of any wrong doing, but what about the 13 million ????? Typical hush money for California, instead of trying to fight, they just pay, why not? Its the Tax dollars!

Mexico ? Vacation ? Are you kidding me? I wouldn't go there if it was free and I got paid! It would be a change of pace to see a hard a working Mexican striving to make something of themselves in their own country and not being a burden on ours.

I have a question, how come in Mexico they speak English at the resorts and spas, but we cant make them learn English in America ???????

JohnDoe2 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject:

cclarkkent · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject:

I am not a big fan of California, all the tourist spots are well maintained and people are nice and friendly, but once you get away from the tourist areas, its a jungle with police, drugs and gangs.

There.....

NoBueno · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

Imagine how much safer California and other cities across this country might actually be if we did not have this massive onslaught of third world illegal invaders to contend with.
I wonder how much safer Santa Ana( and surrounding communities) might be if they did not have their weekly (sometimes daily) gang shootings to contend with and all the other crime which is a byproduct of illegal immigration.

I would like to see those statistics....

PatrioticMe · ALIPAC Hero Elite Joined: Dec 17, 2008 Posts: 2016

JohnDoe2 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:

NoBueno · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:02 pm Post subject:

FreedomFirst · ALIPAC Master Joined: Nov 18, 2008 Posts: 424

JohnDoe2 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:20 pm Post subject:

"The link isn't right. Do you have proof?"

This should work

http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/26/safest-cities-ten-lifestyle-real-estate-metros-msa_chart.html

I just presented some info that I came across.

Feel free to make whatever you want out of it.
_________________
NO AMNESTY

DON'T REWARD THE CRIMINAL ACTIONS OF MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS

BY GIVING THEM CITIZENSHIP

JohnDoe2 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:33 pm Post subject:

sunlandbob · ALIPAC Apprentice 3 Joined: Apr 15, 2006 Posts: 162

Bratton will soon retire as LAPD Chief, and has already set-up a job in the private sector. I wonder if this has anything to do with the exoneration of the Melee Riot-Squad officers.

Bratton announced his intention to step-down one or two months ago. Perhaps he already knew about Cooley's non-partisan decision to clear the officers. Perhaps this was more than he could stand, as Bratton had verbally trashed his own officers in the past, and would suddenly be in a position where he would be obligated to reverse or alter this position.

Before this recent exoneration, Bratton had already demoted and suspended several officers, and virtually forced another one to retire.

If Bratton hadn't made plans to step-down as Police Chief, it could hurt the morale of the LAPD. They would be led by a Chief who would be reluctant to stand-up for his own officers, who are just trying to do their job.

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