You be the judge
A client of mine sent me this wondering if I knew anything about it — which I don’t.
Watch the officer in the middle of the screen very carefully at 0:26. Exactly what is he doing? And if he just did what I think he did, is he still on the force?
Update: I just found this article in the LA Times.
LAPD officers accused of clashing with bicyclists relieved of field duty during probe
June 2, 2010 | 11:34 amFour police officers involved in a clash with cyclists in Hollywood during a mass bicycle ride have been removed from the field while investigators review the incident, an LAPD official said Wednesday.
Police launched an internal investigation into the Friday night episode after a video circulated that appeared to show an officer kicking at a passing bicyclist during a protest ride against BP’s role in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, said Cmdr. Andrew Smith.
Officers were at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue to ticket cyclists who failed to stop at red lights, he said.
The video, which was posted on YouTube with the title “Hollywood Cops Attack Bike Riders,” inflamed many bicycle activists, who have complained about mistreatment at the hands of the LAPD. Several dozen cyclists complained to officials Tuesday at a monthly meeting of the city’s bicycle advisory committee.
Among the attendees was LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, who told cyclists the investigation would be a “high-priority issue,” said Aurisha Smolarski of the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition. Officers took statements from witnesses at the meeting.
At a meeting with bicycling activists in February, Beck vowed to make the LAPD more responsive to the rights of cyclists and to have officers crack down on motorists who disrespected cyclists’ right to the road.
–Erik Ryberg
June 2nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
What a surprise. We’re on our own, folks. Carry a Flip, Vado or Zi8 everywhere you go. Cameras are the great equalizer. Without this footage, these bad actors with badges would still be on the street.
June 2nd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Several of the people I rode with when I was in LA were also on the ride.
They have a HUGE network of advocates. I don’t see them letting this drop.
Here is a link to the post one of the riders I rode with and a member of BikeSideLa. http://www.bikesidela.org/hollywood-lapd-assault-harass-cyclists-on-la-critical-mass/
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:59 am
Here’s a great article on videotaping on-duty cops.
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/03/do-police-have-a-legitimate-expectation-of-privacy-in-public-performance-of-duty/