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A scandal has erupted in Los Angeles over the nationwide police practice of falsely labelling people as gang members.
So far, 20 members of the LAPD’s Metro Division have come under investigation for falsifying field interview cards and deliberately entering incorrect information in order to make it look like they are doing something all days besides eating donuts and pushing their weight around. Ten officers have been taken off the street.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “The LAPD received a letter from a Van Nuys mother saying she believed her son was misidentified as a gang member during an interview with officers. Officials reviewed body-worn camera footage and other information, and they found inaccuracies by the officer.”
Internal Affairs then began reviewing additional body-cam footage. According to Police Chief Michel Moore ( he is a man and that is how he spells it) the investigation initially focused on three officers and expanded to others who worked with the original three and then to others who worked with a second group, the chief said.
Internal Affairs then began reviewing additional body-cam footage. According to Police Chief Michel Moore ( he is a man and that is how he spells it) the investigation initially focused on three officers and expanded to others who worked with the original three and then to others who worked with a second group, the chief said.
Making Lemonade
Los Angeles is a large, litigious city with very many lawyers so the police department was compelled to come clean. Not only are officer’s careers endangered but also criminal cases past and present. The city is trying to portray the scandal as an example of better policing, not worse.
The LAPD, is America’s third-largest police department. It began using body cameras in 2014 and it has now accumulated more than 2 million hours of “encounters.” It is collecting about 14,000 began field testing body-worn cameras in 2014 and collects about 14,000 recordings each day.”
The Times quoted Moore as saying that the body cams help “both sides of the camera, The existence of that camera helps answer: Did the alleged act occur or did it not?”
He said he expects to recommend discipline for the officers who have had their police powers suspended
Moore said Wednesday that he expects to make initial discipline determinations this week on the first wave of cases under review in the gang-reports investigation. “I don’t mean this to go on for months or years.”
Moore said Wednesday that he expects to make initial discipline determinations this week on the first wave of cases under review in the gang-reports investigation. “I don’t mean this to go on for months or years.”
Mayor Eric Garcetti praised the LAPD for taking speedy action before the city got sued. “We have a department that didn’t shove that under the rug,” Garcetti said. “I think the chief took the right action. Secondly, we have to make sure due process is afforded.”
