Teenage girl and man shot; Police union dead set against opening up officer review hearings; Guardian Angels in New Orleans?
- A 16-year-old girl and a 38-year-old man were shot Sunday evening in Pacoima. Police say they don't have any suspects in the shooting but are looking into the possibility that the attack was related to "criminal activity" in the area.
- The Los Angeles Police Protective League, LAPD's union, makes its stand against opening up police review hearings to the public or any legislation that would try to make that law:
LAPPL URGES NO VOTE ON SB 1019
Los Angeles, June 25 , 2007 - The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League today issued the following statement regarding SB 1019, the bill sponsored by State Senator Gloria Romero that would overturn the California Supreme Court decision to close hearings on police officer discipline. The bill has passed the State Senate and is being brought up in the Assembly Public Safety committee on Tuesday.
“The Legislature should not be in the business of providing tools to criminals who want to prevent police officers from doing their jobs. SB 1019, however, provides an effective weapon for those who want to shut down law enforcement activities. By making even unwarranted and frivolous complaints against officers public, SB 1019 opens the way for smart criminals to game the system to get effective cops off the streets.
“We believe that all complaints against police officers should be properly investigated by the appropriate publicly-appointed bodies, and in cases where there has been criminal misconduct on the part of officers, that conduct should be made public. However, in the internet age, in which everybody’s information is readily accessible to anyone, it is reckless and harmful to open personnel hearings and create public records of unsubstantiated allegations. Records such as these could permanently destroy the careers of talented law enforcement officers—and play into the hands of those who would like to see them neutralized.
“Keeping such personnel matters private also allows for hearings to be focused on the facts of a case and not driven by media or public frenzy. We urge the legislature to take the high road on this and not get swayed by the media’s self-interest in making headlines out of officers’ lives.”
The League has sent letters voicing its concerns to members of the Assembly Public Safety committee.
The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.
- Are there Guardian Angels in New Orleans? Apparently, yes:
On a muggy weeknight, a 38-year-old man -- with no permanent home, no weekly paycheck, no health insurance -- strolls through New Orleans looking for crime.An assault, a robbery, even an escalating argument would do. Robert McClintick walks chin up, shoulders squared, arms at his side poised for action.
With the streetlights shining and the alleyways between shotgun homes dark, McClintick seeks to quell one of the city's most pressing problems armed only with two pairs of handcuffs, a flashlight and a cell phone.
As a member of the Guardian Angels, a controversial, volunteer crime-fighting group, McClintick said he is here to help calm a city frazzled by violent crime and beset with fear.
"No police department can do it alone; they need citizen help," he said. "We are extra sets of eyes and ears."
From the Times-Picayune in New Orleans.
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