Thread: Groups request LAPD records involving clash at immigration..

Groups request LAPD records involving clash at immigration rally

05/10/07 07:15:42
A coalition of civic leaders, legal advocates and newspapers is seeking all internal Los Angeles Police Department records involving the May 1 clash at a city park during an immigration reform rally.
The rally ended with riot police using batons and rubber bullets to drive protesters and journalists out of MacArthur Park. Several individuals and groups have filed lawsuits over the incident, and city and federal reviews are under way.

In a letter to police Chief William Bratton and top leaders of the city's civilian Police Commission Wednesday, the coalition formally requested copies of all videotapes of the incident, policy documents, the names of all officers involved, communications on the use of force at the event and memos between elected city officials.

"This will definitely help prevent any cover up," said Peter A. Schey, president of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, one of the groups involved in the request.

Police officials said they had not reviewed the letter but were committed to a transparent investigation.

"As the chief has said, transparency is something we believe in," said Sgt. Lee Sands.

Bob Baker, president of the police officers union, said it was "preposterous" to believe the department would hide information when the independent Police Commission and inspector general are investigating.

"They are getting into personnel records, which state law prohibits," he said.

Besides Schey's group, the letter writing coalition includes, among others: the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, La Opinion newspaper, the Mexican American Bar Association and Maria Elena Durazo, secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.

The department's leaders have faced intense public criticism over the years for failing to take action after reports of police brutality. Last week's melee is the subject of four separate investigations, as well as lawsuits.

On Wednesday, another lawsuit was filed.

A coalition of immigrant rights groups filed a federal civil rights suit against the Police Department alleging that officers violated the constitutional rights of demonstrators.

The suit by the Multi-Ethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network seeks damages and a court order barring the police department from "disrupting" demonstrators and unreasonably using baton strikes and less-lethal munitions to disperse crowds.

It also alleges an announcement from a police helicopter ordering protesters to leave was "inaudible to most of those in the park" and only given in English despite the prominence of Spanish speakers at the rally.

http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/46842.html

Besides Schey's group, the letter writing coalition includes, among others: the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, La Opinion newspaper, the Mexican American Bar Association and Maria Elena Durazo, secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.

The pro-illegal activists smell blood.

You couldn't pay me to be a cop in LA.

Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them just quit. See how that city fares with hardly any police force, it's small as it is. Maybe that's what some really aim for? Lawlessness just like down south.

Jean wrote:

Wouldn't be surprised if a lot of them just quit.

I agree, Jean, I'm surprised some border agents haven't quit, but then again, that's probably what the NAU supporters want.