by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright May 9, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

ive-years into his job, Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton showed “grace-under-pressure,” sucking it up and managing an ugly episode of police abuse May 1 at an immigration rally in MacArthur Park. Bratton overcame overwhelming pressure to rush to defend his force for what was explained away in the past as acceptable police practices. Since the notorious 1998 Rampart Scandal, the LAPD entered into a Consent Decree Nov. 2, 2000 with the Justice Department, requiring the department to implement changes to deal with a history of excessive force, false arrests and unreasonable searches and seizures. Former Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, now a City Councilman from District 8 in South-Central LA, resisted the Consent Decree believing the LAPD could clean its own house. Six-and-half years after accepting the Consent Decree, Bratton finally took action.

      Last Tuesday, LAPD officers overreacted to rabble-rousers in MacArthur Park, firing rubber bullets and beating peaceful demonstrators and the press. Twenty-four civilians were injured by police actions, prompting Bratton to take a serious look at LAPD practices. “There are a lot of moving parts, but we have prioritized those who have come forward to make a complaint that they were injured, and who were witnesses,” Bratton briefed the Los Angeles Police Commission. Bratton promised to have a full accounting of what went wrong to the City Council by May 30. On May 7, Bratton demoted and reassigned the head of Operations Central Bureau Chief Cayler “Lee” Carter, also reassigning the Central Bureau's No. 2, Cmdr. Louis Gray, both responsible May 1 for managing the May Day civil rights rally. On Tuesday, Bratton promoted Cmdr. Sergio Diaz to deputy chief, replacing Carter.

      Bratton's shake-up comes at the expense of alienating the police union, known for defending the rank-and-file even when compromising the department's best interests. Since the 2000 Consent Decree, citizens' groups and the Police Commission have been frustrated by the molasses-like progress toward overhauling a department known for litigating a disproportionate number of police abuse cases. During the 16-year reign as City Atty., former LA Mayor James K. Hahn settled over $100 million in police brutality cases with the law firm of the late Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Ironically, Hahn sacrificed his political career alienating the Black community not renewing Parks' contract and bringing Bratton to Los Angeles. Whatever the misgivings about Hahn as mayor, his crowning achievement was hiring Bratton. LA has a man of intelligence and principle heading the LAPD.

      LA's right wing radio has whipped up a lather about Bratton's decisive steps to rectify the LAPD in the wake of the MacArthur Park melee. Calling Bratton's actions “way over the top” and “inappropriate and unnecessary,” Police union president Bob Baker blasted him for siding with the criminals on KFI-AM (640) radio. Baker warned about future “mass hesitation” by the LAPD in situations requiring urgent police action. No one discounts the LAPD's right of self-defense but lashing out is no substitute for appropriate police procedures and tactics. Baker can't admit that LAPD actions in MacArthur Park shamed the department, helping no one. Instead of caving-in to pressure, Bratton lowered the boom on incompetence. “We have high expectations but we also have confidence in you,” said LA Police Commission President John Mack, encouraging Diaz, a Cuban-born 30 year veteran, deputy chief of Operations Central Bureau, to serve as an agent of change.

      Sixteen years after the Christopher Commission—under the direction for former Secretary of State Warren Christopher—made its recommendations following the Rodney King beating, Bratton refused to make the same old excuses. Bratton provides inspired leadership at the LAPD, deeply entrenched in the old culture of unnecessary aggression. Speaking before the Police Commission at LAPD Parker Center, critics demanded a civilian police review board, calling for Bratton's head. They don't know that Bratton's their best friend in reforming the LAPD. “We're saying, ‘Send him back to Boston,'” said Pete White, calling on the mayor and Police Commission to not grant the chief a new five-year contract extension. It's beyond ironic that the LAPD's best advocate for change is now being attacked for taking decisive steps to clean up the long-overdue department.

      When both the anarchists and right wing fanatics seek Bratton's head, it should indicate he's doing a good job. “It was not the fault of the Los Angeles Police Department,” Jim Gilchrist told the Police Commission, co-founder of the anti-illegal immigration group called the “Minuteman Project.” “The blame should go directly to the anarchists,” ignoring the breakdown in appropriate police practices. No one has sympathy for the rabble-rousers, certainly not Bratton. Gilchrist and other right wing activists don't know the difference between vigilante groups and law enforcement agencies commissioned with the responsibility of protecting civil liberties and defending the Constitution. No matter how provoked, the police must keep their cool, maintain order and arrest lawbreakers—not lash out. Bratton shows all the right stuff and has earned his second term.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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