If We’re Nice to Them, Maybe They’ll Kill Us Last
[Guest post by Jack Dunphy]
In a post from January 14, I wrote about LAPD officers being ordered not to wear their helmets and face shields while facing pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the Federal Building in West Los Angeles. The wearing of helmets, the officers were told, might inflame the protesters. Sadly but predictably, an officer was injured when he was struck in the head with a protest sign. On January 20, the controversy at last attracted the attention of someone at the Los Angeles Times, which published this story. Now, finally, a member of the Los Angeles city council is demanding answers from the LAPD commanders who gave the boneheaded order.
Councilman Dennis Zine, himself a retired LAPD officer, introduced a motion in the council that would require the LAPD to produce a report on how officers are prepared and equipped for crowd-control operations. The motion cites the LAPD’s Emergency Operations Guide, which explicitly states that officers should not be deployed on such operations without helmets.
All well and good for Councilman Zine to act, but things in the LAPD may be even worse than he realizes. I’ve come to learn that at a similar protest at the Israeli consulate earlier this month, an officer was assaulted by a pro-Palestinian demonstrator, who was then promptly detained. But instead of being hauled off to the station for booking as he should have been, he was released on the orders of senior command officers. This was done in the name of “de-escalating” the situation.
If this attitude of cowardly appeasement is allowed to prevail here in Los Angeles, surely it won’t be long before we see disgraceful spectacles such as the one shown in this video, shot during a pro-Palestinian march in London. To back down from mob violence is like feeding a crocodile in the hope it will eat you last. America, behold your future.
–Jack Dunphy
They “de-escalated” the rioters in MacArthur Park at the last march, too. They don’t realize that the ANSWER kooks and their type see the weakness and exploit it.
What have we become? It’s sad….
Patricia (89cb84) — 1/25/2009 @ 6:43 pmDo the leftists behind this idiocy know what Muslims do to homosexuals?
Terry Gain (0a6eaf) — 1/25/2009 @ 6:46 pmCompare this with the LAPD treatment of Operation Rescue in the late 80’s
Kevin Murphy (0b2493) — 1/25/2009 @ 6:49 pmI realise this sounds bad but I can see within the next 50 years a right wing dictatorship taking hold of a few countries and wiping away this problem with extreme prejudice.
The underbelly is weak and our enemies use it against us. Time for a house cleaning so we can get back to our pluralistic ways.
Obama über alles!!!!! (48dd5e) — 1/25/2009 @ 6:51 pm#2… No, our Leftist friends cannot possibly understand people who don’t think like they do.
So they will be very surprised when they find out that the people they are defending will not defend them.
Eric Blair (e92b94) — 1/25/2009 @ 7:42 pmI, for one, can’t wait to see Ellen in her burka.
John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/25/2009 @ 7:47 pmBeing very serious, John, the sad part will be the look of betrayal on their faces when they realize that they attacked and diminished the very system that protected them.
And that their actions helped their enemies, who knew it, and counted on it.
The “useful fools” line attributed to either Stalin or Lenin comes to mind.
Eric Blair (e92b94) — 1/25/2009 @ 7:54 pmSo many of these officials must have Animal House on their list of favorite movies.
They always dream of being the one to say “Thank you sir! May I have another?”
MU789 (c852bc) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:02 pmOnly one-half of the officers should be using helmets and shields,
AD (dd47a7) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:07 pmthe other half should be using helmets and 03-A3’s with the appropriate bayonet with 16″ blade.
5 out of every 6 people on earth are NOT Muslim.
Apogee (f4320c) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:08 pmI would expect that the officer assaulted might have some sort of equal protection grievance against the City, seeing as his rights have been violated.
Apogee (f4320c) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:12 pmWhat is especially sad is to see the change since 1980 when someone inside the Iranian embassy shot a policewoman on the street a block away. The SAS went into the embassy and kicked ass. I arrived in London about two days later and the place was black and still after the assault.
Now look at them. Of course, Thatcher was PM at the time.
Mike K (ee3203) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:14 pm#7 Eric Blair:
A realization that cannot happen precisely because of the belief system you mentioned in your comment at #5.
EW1(SG) (e27928) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:27 pmIt would be nice if Sheriff Andy could show up and diffuse Ernest T. Bass going on a rock throwing rampage–but unfortunately that might have been true 40 years ago in small towns and was never the case in Los Angeles. LA Cops have always had a reputation of cracking skulls to maintain order. Perhaps in the past they got out of hand, but a lot of times it was warranted for the circumstances. I am not saying they need to go old school, but cops need to be prepared.
When dealing with crowds, police nationwide (from small cities to large) wear protective gear and prepare for the worse. That does not mean they have to inflame a crowd. In fact, by being prepared and protected, police have far more options to deal with the unrulies in a larger protest. If cities can afford it, it also makes sense to have mounted police too for crowd control.
Joe (17aeff) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:36 pmInflame the crowd? The point of the mob demonstration is to project power. The chanting, yelling and emotional outbursts are designed to inflame emotions and garner attention. Let me be clear – it is the ‘crowd’ that is solely to blame here, as this type of gathering signifies nothing other than physical intimidation. Demonstrating in Los Angeles to “protest” actions between two foreign factions fighting thousands of miles away is laughable.
Channeling Sam Kinison’s “Move to where the food is” bit: One would assume that they’re US citizens, and that they should protest where the battle is – that might prove more effective.
There’s no reason that the LAPD should coddle such useless jerk-offs.
Apogee (f4320c) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:49 pmYears ago, a then-new Columbus, Ohio police chief issued a new order: If, in the event of a normal police stop, the person drives off, only pursue if said person is already wanted. Chasing people who drive off causes accidents, property damage and harm to innocents.
Sounds a bit bone-headed to me, just like that LAPD order.
John Hitchcock (fb941d) — 1/25/2009 @ 8:53 pmI am happy to be retired after 30+ years in police work. These kinds of decisions are really typical of police managers today. Note that I did not use the word leader. I was seeing that at the end of my career. Just a total lack of understanding or caring about basic mob psychology. In my personal experience most police managers were more concerned with their next promotion rather than the safety of the personnel in their command. I saw it time & time again.
I recall being at one large incident and as the supervisor (sgt.)on scene ordering the troops to put on their helmets for officer safety because the thugs were using hammers to break off pieces of the curb and throw at us. A command officer arrived at the scene and was incensed that the troops were wearing their safety equipment (helmets.)He was concerned that the command staff above him would feel the officers were escalating the situation by wearing their helmets. All this prick cared about was his next promotion. I asked him if he wanted me to order the officers to remove their body armor and guns along with their helmets so as not to “inflame” the situation. I got a royal ass chewing later for that comment but it was worth it.
The respect and safety of those under my supervision was more important than any promotion. Something that is lost on far too many police managers today. This is not a problem limited to solely LAPD.
Sgt. Rock (7cfd24) — 1/25/2009 @ 9:18 pmYes, yes, yes. People respect weakness and respond to it well. I think this appeasement thing is going to turn out just fine.
MJBrutus (dc3d12) — 1/26/2009 @ 2:25 amI did ask the (supposedly) rhetorical question what would happen to me if I instructed one of my men to do a particular job, and told him not to wear his personal protective equipment.
So, now someone is going to investigate this incident. Will we read that the supervisor who ordered this boneheaded move gets a slap on the wrist, or will we read that he suffered the same consequence he would in private industry?
This is one of the really big no-nos in the real world; I guess we’ll find out if the LAPD operates in the real world.
The hardhat Dana (3e4784) — 1/26/2009 @ 3:48 amSorry, #12, you’re confusing two separate incidents into one. The Iranian embassy was in fact raided by the SAS, but only after the building and staff were held hostage.
The British policewoman who was killed was shot outside of the Libyan embassy, and after a siege of the embassy, the Brits… let everyone go home and broke off diplomatic relations with Libya. Probably not their finest hour…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Fletcher
GuyfromNH (01a490) — 1/26/2009 @ 5:12 amLet the commanders remove their helmets also and lead their men from the front, just like the kings in days of old when they led the troops into battle.
dchamil (0ddef6) — 1/26/2009 @ 6:14 amDennis Zine got elected??? The LASlimes must have had conniptions!
PCD (7fe637) — 1/26/2009 @ 6:37 amI’m not terribly confident in the Councilman’s call for answers becoming an investigation or causing any serious change in policy. LAPD needs to get itself sued.
Pablo (99243e) — 1/26/2009 @ 6:43 amI was wondering where the union was on this, and I found something interesting on their website, linked in the top item on the homepage.
It’s stories like this that convince me I am right to worship Cthulhu. That way, when ol’ Squid Head rises from the deep again, I’ll be one of those eaten first.
Better to be the appetizer than the leftovers in the back of the fridge.
Alan Kellogg (e4d258) — 1/26/2009 @ 8:26 amOK, Mr Kellogg, that was so good I had to use it as a blog tagline: “Better to be the appetizer than the leftovers in the back of the fridge.”
The factual Dana (3e4784) — 1/26/2009 @ 8:37 amMan you have to pick your crowd. Deciding to leave off the helmets while policing a group even nominally involved in a never ending 80+ year old (longer?)fight to the death just doesn’t seem smart.
EdWood (c2268a) — 1/26/2009 @ 9:20 amNow if the protesters had been out there against, say, dumping affirmative action criteria from Universities, or rallying to unionize teachers etc.etc. then I can see leaving the helmets back in the car.
Consider yourself denounced as racist, Ed.
Rob Crawford (04f50f) — 1/26/2009 @ 9:46 amMr Wood: Even then, you don’t leave your PPE in the car. Once you start to justify leaving PPE behind, you have reduced the use of personal protective equipment to a judgement call — and that means it can be any numbskull’s judgement which prevails.
The safety-conscious Dana (3e4784) — 1/26/2009 @ 12:36 pmIt is amazing that in such an era and climate, anyone will put life and limb on the line to protect and serve. God bless ’em.
Beldar (ad70fd) — 1/27/2009 @ 4:20 amWell, I can tell you all I was there (for most of the “Gaza” protests, including this one) and it wasn’t pretty! The Commanders that gave these orders also didn’t want to have any arrests in some, and ordered Officers to release one violent protester who assaulted a Police Officer?! Thank you Commander McCarthy, good job and you wonder why the front line troops are so disgusted with the upper echelon of the LAPD! If a bottom dwelling criminal would attempt to head-butt a Police Officer, what do you think he would do to Joe-citizen? If for nothing else, he is placed under arrest for the principal of the matter (and, I don’t know, BREAKING THE LAW), and to dissuade others from thinking that kind of behavior will be allowed. You do not reward violent behavior with a get out of jail free card, Mam. Or did you miss that one in the California Penal Code and your job description? You let the opportunists know that we will arrest you if you violate the law, PERIOD. That way you keep the peace and people can peacefully protest and the community is not put in harms way. Otherwise people get hurt because the protesters push the envelope as far as they can. And in the end result Police failed “to protect and to serve” and the city gets sued because we took no action until it was to late! Novel concept, that whole, protect and serve thing. Attitude breads attitude and you and all the other commanders and supervisors that are playing hide and seek in the command post are guilty of being culpable co-conspirators in these protests that turn violent and people are injured. Sometimes quick bursts of smash mouth football are needed to swelch violent behavior and restore order. How was that cushy spot you had at the command post? I hope your coffee was hot and you had plenty of water, can I get you a twist of lemon next time if you like? Good Job, because of Commanders like Hara and McCarthy Officers are being hurt and the People of Los Angeles are less safe. Wait until some degenerate strikes an Officer in the head with a sign then goes for the Officers weapon. Then what are you going to say Mam, loose the guns boys! Pathetic, that we have a bunch of REMF’s in charge!
The only reason the guy who climbed the Flag pole at the Federal building was arrested is because the federal Police have it right, and don’t take any BS.
It’s always refreshing when a person is holding a sign that reads ” I love Hamas- 9/11 was a consequence of Israel/American relationship! World Peace!!!”, and that same person tell me that they hope my family and children die a bloody death. All because I have the ordacity to be an LAPD Police officer, who is there making sure they can regurgitate their hateful rhetoric. That’s exactly what our Founding Fathers had in mind under the 1st Amendment.
Oh, and who’s the Brain-Child who authorized and directed the Hamas supporters to park their vehicles in the rear of the Federal Building? That was a smooth move exlax! Seriously, have these idiots not been paying attention to the many bombings in the past 15 years? And the massive truck bombs that have been used by these fanatics? Hamas = terrorist organization = big bang. Pull your heads out before Los Angeles gets hit, sooner than later as a result of your ineptitude.
Great Piece Mr.Dunphy… Keep up the Great fight, all of us down here in the mud, the blood and the bear with you were in charge.
Edward (104094) — 1/27/2009 @ 11:41 amOk I will now step off my box. That felt great.
Edward (104094) — 1/27/2009 @ 11:42 am