"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
-Abraham Lincoln
The execution was flawless. The collateral damage was virtually non existent. The mission was accomplished. Many of my friends and family texted, facebooked and emailed me throughout the day leading up to, during and after the LAPD closed down protester’s tents and physically evicted them from the lawns of City Hall late Tuesday evening. After a 24-hour shift, my back was killing me! My greasy face, my tired eyes and my gel-less hair were evidence of a long day at work. It wasn’t a pretty sight. I fell onto my bed like a rock and was surely snoring as soon as my head hit the pillow. The following day I wanted to hear anything but the newscasts about this “Occupy LA” movement. I went into a local coffee shop, injected some caffeine into my veins, and read my book. However the buzz about the eviction was inescapable. There were groups talking about it while I tried to read. I use “talking” instead of “debating” because the conversations were clearly one-sided. Here I was. Recovering from a 24-hour shift. I was proud of what my brothers and sisters in blue had accomplished. Only to be surrounded by coffee shop patrons verbally bashing the efforts of my organization! So I went back home for some good old cable TV instead. But of course, the media’s top headlines were all about the eviction. So, I gave in and listened.
Surprisingly enough the media was quite fair about how they reported on the logistics of the operation. They didn’t have much to report about except for how smooth and how relatively peaceful the event unfolded. All the cameras were focused on City Hall. The coordinated plan of action allowed protesters on the lawn time to leave and gave them other resources and options to take advantage of. Some made the decision to be peacefully arrested for the good of their cause. Officers contained the perimeter, moved in and took action in the most professional way seen throughout the country. Preparation and training allowed for a successful eviction of the controversial “Occupy” movement....LA style!
While order was being maintained in the focal point of the occupier’s encampment and while the media focused all of their attention at ground zero of the protest, they did not cover the action in the streets surrounding the area. These so-called Anarchists got wind of LAPD’s shutdown of “Occupy LA” through various social media networks. They descended onto the downtown area in scattered groups ranging from 20-50 people cloaked in black bandanas around their faces, but their efforts were futile. We were too well organized, too prepared and too mentally ready. The Anarchists tried to get into the City Hall lawn but were turned away by squads of LAPD officers lined up in blockade forces. They jumped fences into private property, damaging everything in their path, desperately trying to get into the epicenter of the “Occupy” movement and cause destruction, but we outflanked them at every turn. It was a beautiful sight. And it was like music to my ears hearing the communication between our LAPD Air-ship and the ground troops working harmoniously together to shut down their efforts. No major incidents. The architects of our battle plan covered all bases. And it was a complete success. (“Anarchists” are a seditious group of protesters who have used violence to disrupt otherwise peaceful protests around the country).
There are many different aspects to our country’s current economical woes. There are many people with very opposing views and very opposing ideals of how our country should be run. There are countless factors that contribute to the situation. To address the root causes, the “how’s” and the “why’s”, would be to write a never ending novel. The big picture of our country’s problems is way too dynamic and multi-faceted to point one’s finger at the police. But it seems that when these dilemmas come full circle, the flashpoint always occurs with the police, even if the matter at hand never involved them in the first place. However, when the pot does boil over, the police are the easiest to point there fingers at and the easiest to direct their anger towards.
Allow me to give you a viewpoint through the lenses of a police officer.
Mass protests affect many people. Other citizens are affected by these protests. The frenzy of media vans and an influx of vehicles driving through to take a peek at the tents on the City Hall lawn add to the downtown LA traffic. Those who reside in the surrounding neighborhoods are taken away from their normal day to day lives. They are forced to deal with the crowds of protesters, media personnel, police officers and looky-loo’s who have taken over their neighborhoods. Those residents have the same rights as the protesters. And it is our responsibility to take action and protect their rights as well. What is the command staff of my department supposed to tell community residents when they complain about the protesters? Ignore them? Sorry, but the protester’s rights are more important than yours? It’s a tough balance. The department asked for for the patience of residents. The police department also asked for compromise from the protesters, but to no avail. The city leaders ignored the protesters violations for almost two months. They ignored the concerns of citizens affected by the protests for almost two months. How long can city leaders ignore citizens on the other side of the coin? To who’s expense? And on who’s behalf? The shut down was inevitable, but the protesters had options to protest legally therefore expanding and elongating their stay. But they collectively refused. As a police officer, I am not offended by them. But when there is a whole other population affected by these actions and I sit back and do nothing, it constitutes a failure to do my duty.
I have been to numerous protests in my 8 years as a police officer. A yearly protest at the Israeli Consulate on Wilshire Blvd. Several gay rights protests at random locations throughout the city. Countless union protests at different grocery stores. Scores of protests at the Federal Building for a slew of different causes. During all of those protests that I have worked, I have always been in the shadows. Out of sight, out of mind. Standing-by only as a precautionary measure. Never have I donned my riot helmet. Never have I had to use force to remove protesters. There have been a handful of those where the protesters chose to be peacefully arrested. The protest leaders were always well organized and worked with city officials and LAPD command staff in order to maintain a safe environment for the people to practice their First Amendment Right. The leaders of these protests worked in unison with city officials and LAPD command staff to ensure the best possible way for their voices to be heard AND to ensure the safety and fairness of the community surrounding the protest location. Protest leaders understand that any altercation with police will take the spotlight off of their cause. It makes perfect sense.
A second police perspective I want to convey to you are the hazards of the encampment in Downtown LA. Lice, Staph infection and Meningitis were found in the encampment before it was shutdown. The grass was soaked in urine. Feces were piled high or buried in the dirt. Generators with exposed electrical chords lay in the open next to highly flammable tents. Children slept next to scurrying rats and cockroaches. I saw it with my own eyes! The fire department cited several health concerns. They went in and identified those hazards. They did their job. It was then the police department’s duty to ensure the safety of surrounding citizens and they occupiers themselves by shutting it down.
Our actions were recently compared to a “Nazi Soldier” who simply followed orders while people were murdered in concentration camps. This person also compared our actions to “racist police of the fifties” (I won’t mention who told me this). The comparison displays a deeper seeded issue of how governmental power and oppression have gone hand in hand in worldwide past and current events. The comparison is like looking into a rear view mirror, it opens our eyes on how historic clashes between the police and the people they serve have shaped society’s attitude towards law enforcement, (future blog topic). But as I stand in formation with my fellow officers, with duty and justice in my eyes, it still scares me to know that people look at me in uniform and think that way. My duty is to restore order to chaos. It is not always a pretty scene when force must be used. But the last time nothing was done, my neighborhood when up in flames during the 1992 LA Riots, (refer to Blog #5: “April 29th 1992”).
Sadly in today’s world, the politics of different situations puts many people, (soldiers, officers, citizens, families, etc...), in danger. The protest in Downtown LA is no different. I see the “Occupy LA” movement as a two-pronged problem. The politicians & the protesters.
The first problem is the political leaders making decisions from the top. They allowed politics to play into their decisions. First they allowed and even condoned the protests. Then later when they realized the protesters were in it for the long run, they went back on their initial sentiments. Mixed messages were given to the protesters. They the politicians scrambled to find a solution when it should have been dealt with from day one rather than allowing it to drag on.
The second problem are the protesters themselves. City leaders atleast attempted to compromise with them. They were given alternative protest locations, free housing for those who were homeless, temporary locations to store their belongings and many resources for food and shelter. Protesters instead decided to ignore all efforts for a peaceful compromise. They threw tomatoes at police (don’t worry it missed me by a mile), they posted “police brutality” signs, they pointed their middle finger at me (that actually kinda hurt). My questions are: Why not assemble legally? Why not take the land offered by city officials to conduct the protests? Voices would be heard on a much more positive platform. The negativity used against police would be spun into positivity for their cause. It just seems like the better solution.
There is something to be said about the worldwide protests of 2011. Time magazine named “The Protester” the Person of the Year. And I agree that WAS the most influential person in 2011. It was a year that will be highlighted in future generations to come. A time that will be compared with the civil rights movement and Vietnam War protests of the 60’s, and even with the nuclear weapons protests of the 80’s. There’s something honorable to say about how much the masses will put up with and what they are willing to do in order to be heard. The anger behind these protests around the world is understandable. And with online social media moving at light speed, the world is now on a jumbo-tron for all to see at the click of a mouse. The dynamics leading up to this unique time in human history and the projections of where we might be headed are intriguing topics. But the purpose of today’s entry is to give you my view point of Occupy LA as an insider behind the small plastic window attached to my riot helmet. I don’t claim to have the right answer, I can only assure that this is MY answer. An honest viewpoint from me: A son, a brother, a friend, a cousin, an uncle, a God-father and a fellow survivor of Da Hood.
The 99% theory is an interesting concept. Coming from food stamps and free school lunch tickets, there are many things I can definitely agree with. On the flip side, being in law enforcement and witnessing some of the failures of our society firsthand through a window of violence, I see a habitual circle of poverty and an ugly side of our current society that upsets me about the solutions offered by the 99% as well. I have my views on both sides of the fence. I am a true believer of our constitutional right of free speech and assembly. But our other responsibility to safeguard everyone affected cannot be ignored. As a community, we task those responsibilities to our police department.
We have a responsibility to protect everyone’s rights.
We have the responsibility to maintain order.
We have the responsibility to protect our own safety in the process.
We have the responsibility to ‘maintain restraint in the face of scorn or ridicule.’
We have the responsibility to clean up the mess after all is said and done.
It’s a difficult balance that I challenge you to ponder. How would YOU ensure our citizen’s 1st Amendment Right while not alienating other citizens who are simultaneously affected? If we can agree that this is not an easy task, then I believe there is hope after all.
And while we work on that hope, I’ll be working on my Hitler ‘stache! Until my next blog, dawg!
PIECE LOVE & WHISKEY
dedicated to liz...
Fallen Officer Since Last Blog: 9 Souls
Total Line-of-Duty Deaths for 2012: 19 Souls
Deputy James I. Thacker
Pike County Sheriffs Dept, KY
End of Watch: Monday, January 23, 2012
Age: 53 years
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Cause of Death: Head-on traffic collision
Survived By: n/a
Officer Gail Thomas
Atlanta Police Dept, GA
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 24 2012
Age: 46 years
Tour of Duty: 15 years
Cause of Death: Struck by a drunk driver while assisting with a traffic incident
Survived By:
Officer William D. “Bill” Talbert
Montgomery County Police Dept, MD
End of Watch: Friday, January 27, 2012
Age: 64 years
Tour of Duty: 13 years
Cause of Death: struck by a DUI driver while on duty in 1983. A blood transfusion saved his life but the blood he received was infected by Hepatitis C. His health deteriorated eventually leading to his death.
Survived by: wife, daughter, three sons, ten grandchildren, and sister
Master Corporal Sandra E. “Sandy” Rogers
Aiken Dept of Public Safety, SC
End of Watch: Saturday, January 28, 2012
Age: 49 years
Tour of Duty: 27 years
Cause of Death: Gunfire at a suspicious vehicle call.
Survived by: parents, two brothers, one sister, and her life-long friend.
Police Officer Steven Green
Mobile Police Dept, AL
End of Watch: Friday, February 3, 2012
Age: 36 years
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 8 months
Cause of Death: Stabbed by prisoner.
Survived by: wife, son, and two daughters.
Reserve Deputy Don Williams
Dale County Sheriff’s Office, AL
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Age: 55 years
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Cause of Death: Automobile accident possibly caused by medical emergency prior to accident.
Survived by: wife and six children
Detective David White
Clay County Sheriff’s Office, FL
End of Watch: Thursday, February 16, 2012
Age: 35 years
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Cause of Death: Gunfire during a drug house raid (meth-lab)
Survived by: wife and two children
Sergeant Michael Todd May
Monongalia County Sheriff’s Dept, WV
End of Watch: Saturday, February 18, 2012
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit, rammed by suspect’s vehicle.
Survived by: parents and brother
Trooper Tony Radulescu
Washington State Patrol, WA
End of Watch: Thursday, February 23, 2012
Age: 44 years
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Cause of Death: Gunfire during a traffic stop.
Survived by: his son.
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