According to the LAPD blog, an outline of disciplinary measures has been brought forward from the egregious melee that occurred in MacArthur Park May 1st of 2007. During what had been previously deemed a peacable rally for immigration rights & reform,a handful of ne'er do wells made it bad for those in attendance, and some handful of LAPD made it incredibly worse for all.
From LAPD's blog:
Chief of Police to Mete Out Discipline
"The personnel complaint investigation alone represented over 12,000 hours of work and was the most exhaustive investigation in Department history. Many sworn and civilian personnel of all ranks completed witness and complainant interviews, a detailed analysis of video tape and still photography, and numerous updates and comprehensive reports.
Twenty-nine named officers were charged with one or more acts or omissions, for a combined total of 80 allegations. The Chief of Police sustained 31 allegations against 15 officers. Among the officers disciplined, three will also receive a reduction in paygrade and four will be transferred from Metropolitan Division."
Read the entire article as linked above. Better late than never, right? Hopefully this will do something to repair the damage that a few have wrought upon the reputation of the LAPD. Let those that do the job right get back to "serving & protecting" IMHO..
I haven't posted this week, it's been pretty slow. I *did* attend the Skid Row Watch walk this month (I missed last month!) and got a few photos.
Estella Lopez thanks everyone for attending the walk & discusses some of the good that is accomplished by coming out & walking the community.
The skid row watch walk is a community outreach effort to both familiarize the community with the issues that Central City East (our Historic Core & Old Bank District adjacent neighbor) deals with every day, and an outreach opportunity to get folks off the street and into shelters or seek medical attention.
Other blogs do a MUCH better job covering the skid row day to day issues, so I won't get into all that is CCE and the daily plight and issues at hand. If you are interested and want to go on the next walk, it's the first Wednesday of every month at about 6pm and leaves from the Midnight Mission at 6th & San Julien no later than 615pm.
It's led by CCEA's Estella Lopez and usually includes several community outreach focused folks from the LAPD like Cpt Jodi Wakefield and others, as well the CCE BID & Public Safety, stakeholders in the business and residential community (that's people like you & me).
LAPD Cpt Jodi Wakefield, Central Division, is one of several committed to helping the community she serves.
First Wednesday Every Month!
I just made it in time to go on the Skid Row Watch Walk with community activists and our LAPD this past week. I almost didn't make it because I got confused about what street to go to and I usually have one or two friends walking over there with me.
I did find the location (Midnight Mission at 6th & San Pedro) as I was only a block away, and I always seem to find a nice person to ask for directions. I've been lucky in that for such a rough and desperate area that Skid Row can be, there are many decent folks that are there, that are willing to interact and reach out. Those scared of going to such an event, it really is ok. If you've never been in a community that makes you uncomfortable or puts you out of your element, then you really haven't left your comfort zone.
Me, I don't like walking out of skid row at night by myself. I've never had to do that yet. I'm very grateful to those kind souls who have either walked with me, or, like this last time, given me a lift. =) Thank you!
