Three Violent Incidents Rekindle Debate on Use-of-Force at LAPD

At the Los Angeles Times, "Violence in 3 recent LAPD incidents rekindles use-of-force debate."

Three violent altercations caught on tape involving Los Angeles Police Department officers have rekindled the long-running debate about LAPD use of force and are shaping up to be a significant test for Chief Charlie Beck.

All three incidents occurred during seemingly routine calls and inexplicably turned violent.

Several weeks ago, a cellphone video showed four police officers tackling a 20-year-old Venice skateboarder they said was resisting arrest. One officer hit him in the face.

This week, videotape emerged in which two LAPD officers in the San Fernando Valley were shown slamming a handcuffed woman to the ground before appearing to give one another fist bumps. The woman, a nurse who was pulled over for holding a cellphone while driving, suffered large bruises to her face and body.

But the most serious incident came to light late Thursday, when LAPD officials revealed that a woman had died during a confrontation in July outside her South Los Angeles home. Police said the woman had gone to a police station to drop off her children because she said she could not take care of them. Police returned to her house to arrest her on suspicion of child endangerment.

"Each incident is disturbing," said Police Commission member Richard E. Drooyan on Friday. "In each of these cases, we are talking about different places in the department with different races and genders involved."

Beck spent Thursday night moving through the city and talking to officers about the incidents.

"I was in the field last night and visited half a dozen police stations," he said. "I looked hundreds of police officers in the eye as I discussed their responsibilities. I have faith in them."

More at that top link.