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LA County reacts to Thomas verdict

By: Danielle Williams

Many Americans expressed outrage through protest and social media this week after two of the ex-Fullerton officers, involved in the 2011 beating death of Kelly Thomas were found not guilty on Monday. A group of Angelenos and the Los Angeles Police Department have developed solutions to combat similar situations from occurring in the county.

An online petition founded by 62nd State Assembly District candidate, Emidio Soltysik, is demanding that mayor Garcetti and the L.A. City Council allow the formation of democratically chosen independent councils to have oversight of the LAPD.

“The petition demands full power to fire police and to arrest, detain and indict officers who brutalize and abuse people or commit any violation of laws or civil rights and liberties,” said Soltysik.

There have been many allegations of LAPD using excessive force over the years,  the 1991 Rodney King beating is among the most notorious. After the King incident LAPD introduced dash cameras in patrol cars as a way to ease public concern.

In 2013, L.A. county officers were involved in 43 citizen deaths, many of the incidents conjured anger and claims of abuse of power from Angelenos.

"The police in LA are totally out of control," said petitioner William Jackson, " [they] have no reason to change unless the people have the right to control them. I have myself been victim to their anything goes way of operating."

In an effort to address public concern  LAPD plans to buy 600 on-body cameras for officers to wear during patrols. On Wednesday foot patrol officers in Downtown L.A. began a 90-day trial of the devices.

Police Chief Charlie Beck said along with investigations, the cameras will help with officer accountability. Soltysik questions the integrity of the process, "How can the public reasonably expect law enforcement to enforce itself?” he asked.

“There has to be some level of public oversight of a police force that has a long-standing record of brutality, racism, and reckless disregard for human rights," he added.

Beck explained the excessive force investigation process in his 2013 op-ed piece on the LAPD website. He said both the LAPD’s Force Investigation Division and Force Review Board thoroughly investigate the case and gives him the findings to review. He submits his determination to the Board of Police Commissioners.

“The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office independently investigates the use of force, as does the Inspector General , which monitors the ongoing investigation and conducts its own independent review.  Both are totally separate from the LAPD.  They do not report to me,” said Beck.

Beck also said that the department is continuously looking for ways to improve. A website to receive public input about the on-body cameras is being constructed.

More information:

Soltysik's petition

On-body cameras

Chief Beck's op-ed

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LA county officers responsible for 43 deaths in 2013

By: Danielle Williams

The Dec. 14 on-air shooting death of an unarmed man by LAPD was the shot seen around the county, helping LA county officers end 2013 with as much  controversy as they've experienced all year.

Oceanside resident Brian Beaird, 51, is the latest officer-involved casualty for the county. After leading officers on a high-speed chase Friday night, Beaird crashed and was shot and killed by officers as he exited his vehicle.

There has been speculation that officers mistook the firing of a bean bag as a gunshot from Beaird and acted accordingly.

That scenario has not been officially confirmed by the LAPD.

Beaird is the 43rd officer-involved death for LA county in 2013. With a total of four this year, the city of Long Beach is leading the county in officer-involved killings.

Since January LBPD has reported 20 officer-involved shootings and two in-custody deaths which, along with a viral video that claims to show Long Beach officers using excessive force, has left many locals upset.

Long Beach residents have been vocal with their scrutiny of the LBPD comparing the officers to the Fullerton officers who were involved in the 2011 beating death of Kelly Thomas.

In late September LBPD held a news conference to address the displeased public.

“It appears that the officers this year have run into more people with guns who are willing to take on the officers, and that has resulted in an increase in officer-involved shootings,” said Cheif Jim McDonnell.

In November the Press Telegram reported that the number of suspect-with-a-gun calls in Long Beach was at 470 while the number of those calls for 2012 totaled 414.

Some citizens have come to the defense of LBPD, applauding the department for cracking down on crime in the city, which has been at a slight increase over the last few years.

LBPD reports that along with an internal investigation of officer-involved shootings the LA County District Attorney’s office will also investigate each incident.

Many of the deceased's’ families are coming forward disputing officers decisions to shoot. The family of Tyler Damon Woods, 19, killed by LBPD in November held a protest against the department. John DelReal, 39, was killed by Long Beach officers in September and his family is planning to sue the department with claims that  DelReal was shot after he was on the ground. Brian Beaird’s family hasn't made any comments about his shooting death but many LA residents have expressed concern.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck addressed the topic of officer-involved shootings earlier this year saying, “Officers are never trained to “shoot to kill,” only to stop a deadly threat in order to keep the community and themselves safe ... taking a life is never our intent.  It's a tragedy when it occurs for everyone involved and for the City of Los Angeles.”

Beck also said that LA county is the most thorough with investigating officer-involved shootings in the nation.