LAPD Chief Disturbed By Rally Violence

3 Investigations Launched Into Cops' Tactics At Immigration Rally

(CBS/AP)  Three investigations have been launched into police officers' tactics in dispersing a crowd at an immigration rally, where authorities wielded batons and fired rubber bullets into crowds.

"This incident is one of the more disturbing and troubling in my 37-year career," Police Chief William J. Bratton said Thursday on CBS News' The Early Show.

Bratton did not try to defend the actions of his officers, reports CBS News correspondent Steve Futterman. Instead he promised a complete and very public examination of Tuesday night's events.

News images showed police hitting a KCBS/KCAL television cameraman to the ground, shoving people who were walking away from officers and injuries from the rubber bullets.

"All I thought they would do was line up and march and say 'get out of here,'" said KCBS reporter Mark Coogan, one of those beaten. "You didn't have to whack people or fire at people with rubber bullets."

Rally organizers denounced the police action as brutal.

"They were pushing children, elderly, mothers with their babies and beating up on the media" said Angela Sanbrano, an organizer.

"I'm not seeking to defend it all. That's why we're having investigations. I've already indicated I don't like what I see on the videos," Bratton told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.

The clashes started around 6 p.m. Tuesday, when police tried to disperse demonstrators who moved into a street, according to rally organizers and reporters. Authorities said several people threw rocks and bottles at officers, who used batons to push the crowd back to the sidewalk and then cleared the park.

A police order to disperse was in English and from a police helicopter, a likely ineffective tactic because of the noise and because many at the protest were Spanish-speakers, Bratton said.

"It appears to me, my early review, I have serious problems with the chain of command situation, serious problems with notification of the crowd to disperse, and very serious concerns that so many rounds, almost 240, and we're still trying to pin that down, almost 240 rounds were fired. And no arrests made," Bratton said.

Police union leaders urged against a "rush to judgment."

"Our officers gave a legal dispersal order and were met with violence. In the coming days it will become clear what transpired," said Los Angeles Police Protective League President Bob Baker in a statement.

Seven officers suffered minor injuries, and another was pushed off his motorcycle, Bratton said. About 10 other people were treated for minor injuries, though authorities expected the number to rise.

The investigations already under way include an overall departmental review of tactics, an internal affairs investigation into the behavior of the officers and commanders on the scene, and an independent review by the Inspector General, the investigative arm of the Police Commission, which sets policy for the Police Department.

John Mack, president of the five-member Police Commission, said he was "deeply disturbed and very disappointed" by the news images.

"This was not a pretty picture. This incident raises serious concern regarding the use of force by some individual officers," said Mack, who is one of Bratton's bosses.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian NuInez, who represents the park district, also asked Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley to launch an independent investigation into the officers' actions.

He said police deliberately led troublemakers back to the peaceful marchers before beginning their assault.

"The only logical conclusion I can come to is that somebody wanted it to bleed into the march so that they can do some target practice on some of the immigrants that were marching," Nunez said.

News organizations also condemned the Police Department for its use of batons and riot guns against members of the media.

"We are sorry for what happened to our employees and find it unacceptable that they would be abused in that way when they were doing their job," said Alfredo Richard, spokesman for the Spanish-language network Telemundo, whose anchor and reporter were hurt.

Bratton promised to investigate the treatment of reporters.

"We should never be engaged in attacking anyone in the media," Bratton said.

[brittanymvau]

WHY

[olebd]

How disturbed is this chief that his staff didn't REALLY enforce the law?

Bring out the sacrificial lamb!

[granolaboy1]

These are not citizens protesting a war, these are lawbreakers protesting law enforcement. Bravo to the LAPD for making it clear that they should go home. Rubber bullets? Please, in most other countries the bullets would have been all business.

I have relatives in Mexico who would like to come here legally. Why should they have to wait in line behind a bunch of crybaby lawbreakers?

Please America, just say no to amnesty. America is about law abiding citizens, don't you want law abiding immigrants?

[hambonehd]

ILLEGAL !

"A police order to disperse was in English and from a police helicopter, a likely ineffective tactic because of the noise and because many at the protest were Spanish-speakers"

Learn English!

[vafiveoh]

When you are with a crowd of people like this, and some in the crowd become violent and break the law, you are just a responsible as the cowardly people who throw rocks and bottles at the police. If you leave when told to, there would be no problem.

[hambonehd]

AMEN granolaboy1 !

and olebd.

[buzzmack]

The most important part of this story is the fact that, AS ALWAYS, people cannot obey the law. And why should it surprise anyone that news people were involved when they are ALWAYS in peoples faces.

[granolaboy1]

Please don't call them Mexicans. "Thin the herd"? That sounds racist, and it is people like you who give the liberals in Congress reason to disregard those who argue against amnesty for good reasons (see my post below).

The Roman empire fell because they brought in so much cheap labor that there was no way anyone could earn a living. You were either a slave or a member of the elite. The United States is going down that same path with H-1B and amnesty for illegal immigrants.

[drummer94]

Where the heck were the dogs and water cannons? Can you say the sixties? Seriously though, illegals are just that, illegally here. I would think that the cops would be using video to nab the peaceful demonstrators who started tossin rocks, before they started lookin like the S.S.

[capnboost]

Number 1) English isn't the national language- get over it.

Number 2) Your families probably immigrated from somewhere.

Number 3) The march was peaceful, there were a relatively small number of agitators near the police, they were herded in to the peaceful march where everyone was shot with non-lethals.

Number 4) The media was not in anyones "face" until they started getting shot and gassed. Their cameras yanked away from them and thrown.

This is not how the police are supposed to act, why is that fact lost on all of you? Do you see *any* "Protection" or "Service" in this story or is that a bunch of *** that gets painted on the side of cars to make us feel warm and fuzzy when something down right fascist like this happens?

[watchingall]

This is just another example of the scummy police department. How can 240 rounds be shot without being noticed by a supervisor? I really doubt that the police chief is disturbed by this. It is ashamed that decent policemen are out-numbered by ignorant bully policemen. The LAPD needs to stop recruiting hill-billies and dummies.

[dickginnold]

Lets not let power have half the working class fight the other half. With our lowering birthrate(except for immigrant families),anglo-americans retiring in their early sixties and relying on Social Security to live and competition from low-wage products from Asia, America needs a lot more Mexican immigrants to provide an increased work force, help keep Social Security and Medicare solvent and do the jobs that many anglo-americans shun at a reasonable wage.

After that, we need a Marshall Plan for Mexico that will provide the job creating investment they need(particularly in the South of Mexico, where I live) and enable us to have open borders with nuestros hermanos buenos. Ojala y saludos.

[formerusncop]

The COPS have a tough job everyone wants to blame them.You rarely hear negative Police abuse from the Nation's Capital Police. The DC cops have this rally stuff down to a science. Hate groups pay trouble makers to infiltrate and create trouble.They are ID'd first and the rally remains peaceful. Maybe LA needs advisors from DC. Just a thought.

[kessati1]

the sama problem in greece,we are 10 mill. and have more than 1mil. albanen ,bulgarien,rumanien and and and ...the came all over the border(turkey,montains)and work for one or two euro the houer and many greeks have know no jobs. nobody do anything because so get the rich cheap worker.

[rushman71]

Lets imagine that if we made Mexico as part of our country after the Mexican-American war in 1848, Mexico would have possibly had a much better economy and society than it does today. No border to jump, dig, or swim through just to live a better life. Yes, us Americans made some stupid mistakes, as we still do. Hey, look at our President today.

[tibu987]

Immigration today is NOT the immigration of the early 1900's when people emigrated legally.
The current protests to make somethng illegal, legal, is, in itself a slap in the face of the American people.

Those people waiting to legally enter the U.S. after waiting for years would feel frustrated if millions of ILLEGAL immigrants were to be given amnesty. What it would say that it is okay to commit a crime in the U.S. and get rewarded fo it.
Illegals should be deported as soon as possible.

Those politicians pandering to the illegal crowd for their votes should be voted out of office.
Abetting those illegals should also be a crime.

E-mail your views you your local and federal politicians

[watchingall]

This is just another example of the scummy police department. How can 240 rounds be shot without being noticed by a supervisor? I really doubt that the police chief is disturbed by this. It is a shame that decent policemen are out-numbered by ignorant bully policemen. The LAPD needs to stop recruiting hill-billies and dummies.

I was just reading all of the racist comments. What a sick group of people. Let me remind all of you uneducated and ignorant racists that these Mexicans are coming home to California. They were here way before the rednecks from Europe. So, go back to Europe if you don't like what is going on. Most of you hill billies are probably first, second, or third generation migrants. So - go home. Where were you when the country was being built? Probably picking potatoes or your noses in the middle of the fields in Europe.

[alienateit]

I am not sure if some people slept through history classes, or maybe we are not teaching history as it happened. The United States anexed Texas in 1847 without the permision of the Mexican Government. I call that stealing.

Now we are asking the Mexicans to go back home, but... wait a minute... THEY ARE AT HOME!

It is as if I came and occupied your land and then call the police when you come and live there. It doesn't make sense.

We know where bigotry and hatred has taken us (that history class again) so, shouldn't we change our intolerant ways?

[watchingall]

This is just another example of the scummy police department. How can 240 rounds be shot without being noticed by a supervisor? I really doubt that the police chief is disturbed by this. It is a shame that decent policemen are out-numbered by ignorant bully policemen. The LAPD needs to stop recruiting hill-billies and dummies.

I was just reading all of the racist comments. What a sick group of people. Let me remind all of you uneducated and ignorant racists that these Mexicans are coming home to California. They were here way before the rednecks from Europe. So, go back to Europe if you don't like what is going on. Most of you hill billies are probably first, second, or third generation migrants. So - go home. Where were you when the country was being built? Probably picking potatoes or your noses in the middle of the fields in Europe.

[formerusncop]

to llovejesus58 and watchingall. The Bible says love your neighbor be tolerant of others. You might as well get over the fact that Muslims and Blacks aren't going away. If you love Jesus how can you be so bigoted?
I am a HILLBILLY with a Phd and retired COP. And former LA County Deputy. I seem to remember that most of the Deputies I worked with were from the Barrio's, Ghetto's and inner city. I was the only HillBilly from a group of Deputies at the Mens Lockup Downtown LA. It's too bad you guys can't see the forest for the trees. The late great Fred G. Sanford said "they want to send all the blacks back home, my home is St. Louis, where's the bus."

[alienateit]

Thank you FormerUSNCOP. I agree with every word.

[funkiwiteboy]

If you don't have your id you take a ride in a wagon and spend some time on the tax-payers dime while they check the pc to see if you belong here. If you throw stuff at the police they will throw stuff back harder. If you break the law you pay a fine. They live very well in Mexico on the $ thats like worth 10 x more than in the US. If you're flipping burgers it's like making $80.oo an hour!!! Make em pay,make em pay, and make em pay, so they have to live like 80% of Americas work force.
Lord hep US to be really honestly free...

[mottasa-2009]

This is no different from all the other "hotbed" protests. If there is a protest on an important issue no matter what it is, you can bet that there will always be some "anarchists" present. You cannot please the anarchist, they live to disrupt society and government. Look at any world bank, G8 or other summit meeting and you will find them there also.

[cowboy1942]

These freeloaders are here ILLEGALLY,period !
That alone should prevent them from access to the rights of the American citizen! Treating them humanely as they are being deported should be the only concern. Face facts, these illegals are bankrupting the Soc. Security system that all hardworking Americans contributed to. Not to mention lowering the standards of our American Educational system. They don't like how they are treated here? GO HOME !

[alienateit]

I am not sure if some people slept through history classes, or maybe we are not teaching history as it happened. The United States anexed Texas in 1847 without the permision of the Mexican Government. I call that stealing.

Now we are asking the Mexicans to go back home, but... wait a minute... THEY ARE AT HOME!

It is as if I came and occupied your land and then call the police when you come and live there. It doesn't make sense.

We know where bigotry and hatred has taken us (that history class again) so, shouldn't we change our intolerant ways?

[defyallodds-2009]

Are you Idiots serious????? I bet you were the same racist *** who where egging on the police during the civil rights movement when the where brutalizing Black People. Why does it matter that these people are so called illegal, they are human. Just because all you see is mexican doesn't mean they are illegal. But I guess in your eye's all Black people are theives ingnorant, and should be picking cotton in Mississippi? And all people from the Middle East are terrorist? There is a way to do things and a wrong way, LAPD were wrong. As a Officer of the Law I am appauled at the actions of fellow law enforcement officers.

[baddog777]

"I am not sure if some people slept through history classes, or maybe we are not teaching history as it happened. The United States anexed Texas in 1847 without the permision of the Mexican Government. I call that stealing."
-Posted by alienateit-

If memory serves, when Texas was annexed by the U.S. it was independant of Mexico (part of the terms of Santa Anna's surrender to Sam Houston).

[llashton]

Everyone needs to stop the name calling and fighting%u2014it makes the problem worse. Stop being so righteous! If you lived some place where you could not find a way to support your family, what would you do?
All of you opposed to the %u201Cilegal immigration%u201D forget why the Mexicans are coming here%u2014for a better life. We have jobs for them to do and they are willing to do them. Instead of making them come here illegally why don%u2019t we fix the problem and let them come legally either on temporary work visas or something that allows them to become a citizenm, if they so desire.
You complain that the illegals are costing us money%u2014we%u2019re paying for their schooling and health care!! Well stop whinig and make them legal so they can pay their share, maybe they can improve our health care system%u2014the Mexican health care seems to be gaining on ours and a lot of Americans are now going to Mexico for better and much cheaper health care!!
We all want a better life%u2014let%u2019s not be so selfish and deny it to people wanting the same thing. They can give a lot to our community if given the chance. All of our families, however many generations back wanted the same. Hatred gets us no where. Fix the problem instead of fighting.

[jairod]

While you're talking about illegals, remember that anyone who parks in a "hadicap" space and not authorized to do so is illegal; anyone who runs a red light is an illegal; anyone who parks in an emergency only spot at the grocery store or at WalMart is an illegal. Having said that, they should all be deported so they stop wasting the taxpayers money that goes to support the traffic courts which can be used to address the alien issue. Let's clean our owm house of those that take advantage of their "citizenship" before we tackle the alien issue. Once those that laugh at our law enforcement by scoffing at these minor laws, then we can tackle the the violators of major laws. If you don't like these little laws, maybe you should think about leaving the country where they will tolerate your recalcitrance...not. But, wait. You're free, white and 21: you don't have to abey the law.

[alienateit]

baddog777, if history serves, the United States had not rights over Texas whatsoever.
We stole the land and then offered 5 million dollars for it. Once Mexico was defeated they also gave up New Mexico and upper California.

Once again, I am not making this up, this is history.

"The annexation of Texas thrust the United States into a political argument with Mexico. Mexico had never formally recognized the independence of Texas. For this reason, Mexico claimed that Texas could not become a part of the U.S. Mexico further stated that any attempts to annex Texas would be considered as an act of aggression towards Mexico, an act that could result in military activity."

Taken from: http://www.dallashistory.org/history/texas/annexation.htm

[nottellin1]

Please, please, please, don't just write it here. Write to your elected officials, congress people & senators. These are the ones that really need to see our thoughts on this issue. The only way to make a change is to let the country know how the prople really feel.

[hisp_mex_ame]

Stop generalizing because not every immigrant comes from Mexico. We need to stop worry about people who are willing to work and fight for this country and worry about those who come to this country with visas and massacre people and blow people for a war fought in another country.

[shortyinmo]

watchingall- maybe you should check your history books. The native americans were here before the europeans and the mexicans. This is american, weather we "stole" texas or not. Basically we stole the entire contry so why don't we all leave and let the native americans come off the reservations and roam the country like they use to.

They want to come here and get all the privilages of citiczen ship without becoming one. They get free food, clothing, leagal and medical care, almost everywhere you go people speak spanish. COME ON!!!!!!!! If I wanted that I would go to mexico. If they want to be here do it the right way like thousands of other americans had to do when they were coming from all over throught ellis island. You don't sneek in over night through a whole in the fence. That doesn't make you american. Ask them about the constitution, ask them some simple history questions and you will see they know not a *** thing about this country. Send them back and make them earn a spot here like my grandparents did. If you feel so bad for them maybe you should go live with them instead of with all us dumb hillbilly citizens here in the usa

[hisp_mex_ame]

We need to stop being racist and bigots. Because these people are not making America bad. If you go to the streets and look at the homeless people you don%u2019t see Hispanics no you see white people. Why because they don%u2019t want to work there are jobs out there but refuse to clean toilets for a living they rather beg for money.

[hisp_mex_ame]

No honey, that is not true they also speak Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic and Pakistani so you need to get your facts right

[klingon69]

capnboost;
Ok, we probably immigrated here from somewhere else. personally I was born here but to sooth your tortured id I will admit that my lineage while does have some Native American in it, is foreign. However, the point you are missing:
1) We are legal, we were either born as citizens or naturalized by following a legal process. These "criminals" simply waded a river, or stole through a gap in a fence, or paid money to bigger criminals to bring them across.
2)English may not be the national language (should be) but, a majority of the citizens seem to speak it.(remember part of the legal way to get citizenship is to learn english). Recently a young boy of 6 or 7 died on a Easter carnival ride, because the warnings from his mother to the operator was in Spanish, and most carnies speak english and carny. I know, because at one time I worked with them.
3)Peaceful or not, it was still filled with illegals.
4)F the media anyway.

[hisp_mex_ame]

To didntinhale why do you keep posting the same thing I tell you because you are an ignorant person who can not assemble an intelligent thought. Go back to school and use my tax money correctly

[klingon69]

alienateit;
Funny you should mention history, since obviously you haven't read much yourself. Texas was annexed into the union AFTER the war between Texas and Mexico. You might have read something about an old church and where less than 200 men held of thousands of crack Mexican troops. You might have reade about the Battle of San Jacinto, where the president-for-life Santa Anna tried to escape the battle by masquerading as a private. You may have read where he surrendered ALL of what was then Texas to the Texans, thusly making it the only state in the union that has been its own country. So annexing Texas was approved by the political powers that were during that day, and seems to me that Mexico had no claim.

[shortyinmo]

All i am saying is become a citizen the LEGAL way. There are many imagrants here who have taken the time to go trough the process. No the police didn't act fairly but guess what? It's not just because your mexican. There have been plenty of lawsuits from black and while americans claiming police abuse, so check it. As for not wanting to clean bathrooms-WRONG- only a hand full of lazy "white" people want to beg. I have cleaned plenty of toliets in my day, it is an honest living and i don't reqret it abit. And I did it as a legal citicen.
This country is made up of more than black, white, and mexican and it is about time people realize that and start getting over the me me me syndrom because if every minority group started whining there would never be any silence

[l8c6]

Hmm, white people are in the streets homeless because they don't want to wash toilets and do the work the immigrants--vastly from Mexico are willing to do. That sounds plausible?

Multinational corporate america betrayed the citizens of the U.S. and the citizens bought the neo con lies of the perverse Rush Limbaugh media hoe's rheotoric that ranted year after year like a cult leader convincing the people to turn onto themselves and split into oppositional factions. The Spanish immigrants are united while the american based multinational corporations worked diligently to divide the citizens of the U.S.

[klingon69]

defyallodds;
Why should blacks be picking cotton in Mississippi? We have the ILLEGAL ALIENS of ALL races to do it for almost nothing.

llashton;
Must be real nice in utopia. Come see us when you come back to the real world. BTW, some of those with work permits, visa...etc are dealing the drugs, molesting the children and commiting some of the thefts.

[hisp_mex_ame]

I'm gland that you are willing to do what ever is necessary to make a living. These illegal%u2019s you so call are trying to do the same thing make a living. And this hatred that is going around needs to stop because we are not getting anywhere. and stop talking about history. There is a famous say "those who do not learn history and are doomed to repeat it" and guess what history is being repeated. We are discriminating against a race just like Hitler did the Jews, like America (whites) did to African -Americans and Vietnamese- Americans. Stop the HATRED!

[klingon69]

hisp-mex-ame;
No, it is difficult to see homeless Mexicans, only because multiple families will live in one house. No, they don't have to sleep in the streets.

[rob9979]

I HAVE ABSOLUTLY "NO RESPECT" 4 THE POLICE!!!! I WAS WOKE UP,DRAGGED DWN 3 STAIRS,HANCUFFED & PUT IN JAIL 4 SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO AND COULD "PROVE IT" THEN. THEY REFUSED 2 ALLOW ME 2 DO THAT! LET OUT NEXT DAY. TOOK ME 5 DAYS 2 GET OVER SHOCK!!!!
THEY THINK THERE "GOD" AND "DON'T RESPECT US AS HUMANS" & TREAT US LIKE "ANIMALS"!

[hisp_mex_ame]

Don%u2019t hate because Hispanic families stick together to help each other instead of giving them the curb

[baddog777]

To alienateit ---

http://www.republic-of-texas.net/history.shtml

I do not wish to argue the history of Texas.

Texas had operated as a sovereign nation, the Republic of Texas, for approx. 10 years before the events in question, without interference from Mexico.

The dispute in question did not arise until annexation became an issue, and then the issue was not whether the Republic of Texas was a sovereign nation, but where the borders of Texas ended. Mexico contended they ended at the Nueces River while the United States contended they ended at the Rio Grande.

So, I guess the question at issue is whether Texas won their independence by defeating the armies of Mexico and establishing a Republic, or whether Mexico could lay claim to Texas just by saying they did not recognize its independence.

[hisp_mex_ame]

I never said that they were illegal but some are my point was and is that everywhere you go you don't just here Spanish being spoken but other languages because this country is made by many people. I never said anything racist nor do I plan to because comments like those are unnecessary and will never resolve anything. And our comment about welfare you need to check who is on welfare before you start talking.

[gkc99]

So the LA pigs distinguish themselves with their vicious sadism once again--what else is new?

[hisp_mex_ame]

To all the Hitlers talking stop your ignorance and stop thinking this country is ours because it is not.

[nottellin1]

See, I told y'all that LA is an awful, terrrible, nasty place to live. Please don't ever move here and if you live here, please leave.