LAPD officers attacked 527 times this year

Los Angeles, December 29, 2008 - Los Angeles police officers continued to be the targets of violence in 2008 as officers were reported to be attacked in 527 instances during the past 12 months.

Included in that figure is the first murder of a SWAT officer in the department's history. Officers were shot at a total of 14 times during the year.

"There are not exchanges of gunfire between criminals and officers," said Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League. "These are cold-blooded attempts to murder unsuspecting officers without any warning."

Los Angeles SWAT Officer Randal David Simmons, a 27-year veteran of the department, was shot and killed when he entered the home of an armed man during a standoff in February.

In addition to the shootings, LAPD officers were also assaulted by suspects wielding deadly weapons in 168 cases and were the victims of battery (physical altercation) 358 times in 2008.

"Los Angeles is a city protected by dedicated LAPD officers, who deserve all the tools and all the support the community can possibly provide," Weber said. "The LAPPL asks the public and our community leaders to continue to support our officers and make sure that criminals do not deter them from doing their work to make Los Angeles the safest big city in America."

"Public safety requires a strong two-way partnership. We need to make it clear that Los Angeles is a city in which violence on law enforcement is never tolerated, and that those who threaten our police officers threaten our own communities," Weber said.