Police brass blamed in MacArthur Park melee

[ellisonz]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Police brass blamed in MacArthur Park melee

An LAPD report details numerous errors made by commanders and officers in the May confrontation with immigration rights protesters and journalists.
By Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

10:23 AM PDT, October 9, 2007
The May Day MacArthur Park melee, in which LAPD officers clashed with protesters and journalists, occurred because of a series of errors by police commanders, according to a long-awaited report released this morning.

Officials said 26 officers are under investigation and could face discipline for excessive use of force during the incident.

The report, prepared by top officials of the Los Angeles Police Department, highlighted numerous missteps by commanders and officers before and during the confrontation:

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* Officers appeared to use more force on journalists and protesters than LAPD policies or the law allow, the report said. "It appeared that some of the officers and supervisors in MacArthur Park believed that, contrary to department policy, baton strikes could be used to compel a person to disperse, even if they were merely standing in front of the officers, failing to respond to direction," the report said.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-melee10oct10,0,7174441.story?coll=la-home-center

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Now fire the worst of the 26...

[Cabcere]

1. None of this would've happened if that damn cake hadn't been left out in the rain.

:hide: (Sorry - couldn't resist.)

[TheDebbieDee]

3. You left it out in the rain?

And after it took you so long to bake it!

What a waste!

[Cabcere]

4. Well, someone did!

:cry: And I'll never have that recipe again... :rofl: :hi:

[brentspeak]

5. .

[superconnected]

7. OH NO!!!!

[jdadd]

8. And the old men playing checkers by the trees

:rofl: :hi:

[UncleSepp]

2. Headline made me think of tubas

Somehow, what came to mind was some kind of clash of a police marching band with picnickers in the park. Like maybe the fire department woodwinds had stayed out of it, but the police brass were really spoiling for a fight...

[Solon]

6. Every single one of those 26 officers should be charged with assault....

why the FUCK we have police departments protect fucking criminals in uniform is beyond me. Wearing a badge does NOT make one immune from the law.