Chief Charlie Beck’s Statement on Christopher Jordan Dorner NR13340SF

Los Angeles: I have no doubt that the law enforcement community will bring to an end the reign of terror perpetrated on our region by Christopher Jordan Dorner and he will be held accountable for his evil actions. The families that have been devastated by his actions will never be the same.  By all accounts, the Los Angeles Police Department has made tremendous strides in gaining the trust and confidence of the people we serve. Dorner’s actions may cause a pause in our increasingly positive relationship with the community but, it will not stop our commitment to provide courteous, professional and constitutional policing to each individual this Department makes contact with.  I am aware of the ghosts of the LAPD’s past and one of my biggest concerns is that they will be resurrected by Dorner’s allegations of racism within the Department.

But, I also know that we are a better organization now than ever before; better but not perfect.  Fairness and equality are now the cornerstones of our values and that is reflected by the present diversity of the department.  We are a majority of minorities, almost exactly reflecting the ethnic makeup of Los Angeles.

As hard as it has been to change the culture of the Los Angeles Police Department, it has been even more difficult to win and maintain the support of the public.  As much as I value our successes in reducing crime, I value even more our gains in public confidence.

Therefore I feel we need to also publicly address Dorner’s allegations regarding his termination of employment, and to do so I have directed our Professionals Standards Bureau and my Special Assistant for Constitutional Policing to completely review the Dorner complaint of 2007;  To include a re-examination of all evidence and a re-interview of  witnesses.  We will also investigate any allegations made in his manifesto which were not included in his original complaint.

I do this not to appease a murderer.  I do it to reassure the public that their police department is transparent and fair in all the things we do.