Use of Force Incident Getting Careful Review NR14397an

Los Angeles:  Use of Force incident in Los Angele under review by LAPD Force Investigation Division and Internal Affairs.

On October 16, 2014, around 12:15 p.m., Officers from our Newton Division were involved in a Use of Force (UOF) incident in the area of 55th Street and S. Avalon Boulevard in Los Angeles.  Following the initial review of the incident there were questions about the events that occurred.  In response to those questions the Department initiated multi-divisional and multi-jurisdictional investigations into the incident.

The Department’s Force Investigation Division has been assigned to investigate the Use of Force while the Internal Affairs Division will conduct a parallel administrative investigation.  Additionally, and in accordance with the Department’s protocols, notifications were also made to the Office of the Inspector General and the District Attorney’s Office for their independent review of the incident.  

The Department considers the use of force to be one of the most critical matters that officers engage in as public servants.  As such, we investigate all uses of force with the utmost scrutiny and diligence.  Due to the nature of these investigations the Department is often restricted by state laws from releasing specific details of the investigation.  However, “I can assure you that our investigators will investigate every aspect of this incident to determine what transpired that resulted in the use of force last Thursday” said Chief Charlie Beck.  “Our officers are confronted regularly with situations that require them to employ force to overcome resistance or to affect an arrest.  When they use force it must always be reasonable and necessary, and the application must be in accordance with our policies as well as the law.  I am extremely concerned about this particular use of force,” Beck continued.

“This investigation is ongoing and there is still much that needs to be done to determine the facts of this matter, but let me be very clear, any Officer that is found to abuse the public is not welcome in this Department, and we will apply whatever legal or administrative means necessary to insure the Community’s trust without exception,” Chief Beck concluded.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact LAPD’s Force Investigation Division at 213-202-5677.  Crimes and Tips may also be reported to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to report crime and remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.LAPDOnline.org and click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.  iWATCHLA.org  “See Something Say Something” – 1-800-A-THREAT (800-284-7328).