LAPD SWAT Report: A Con Job
[Guest post by Jack Dunphy]
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles police commission at last heard from the “Board of Inquiry” that looked at the LAPD’s SWAT team (discussed in previous posts here, here, here, and here, and elsewhere here and here). The Board attempted to present their report, which recommended more “diversity” among SWAT team members, as an impartial statement of the facts and of their recommendations for improvements. But to anyone who understands the issues the entire presentation was a fraud, one designed to justify the politically correct conclusions LAPD Chief William Bratton sought when he commissioned the Board two years ago.
Of the five police commissioners, only Alan Skobin (not coincidentally the only one with any police experience) seemed to grasp that the presentation was a con job. The others either didn’t know or didn’t care that they were being lied to. The entire episode has been a disgrace, but what is even more disgraceful is that no one in city government or the media will lift a finger to do anything about it.
UPDATE: Commenter Steve (No. 6) is correct. The officer in question, Jennifer Grasso, had a negligent discharge in SWAT school while practicing on the range with an MP-5. Grasso is a good cop and I wish her well, but the fact remains that until now such a serious safety violation would have resulted in any candidate’s immediate disqualification from SWAT. Chief Bratton and his sycophants maintain that SWAT standards have not been lowered, a ludicrous claim on its face, but this incident proves it to be an outright lie. Bratton wants a female in SWAT and that’s what he’ll get, standards be damned.
We all knew it was going to be a con-job, but the question is, how many SWAT guys will resign in protest. I know I would, if I was one of them.
thebronze (0813d4) — 4/18/2008 @ 1:00 pmhi i enjoyed the read
matt (6acf5f) — 4/18/2008 @ 1:14 pmmaybe we should just disband the LAPD and outsource everything to LASD?
/semi-sarc
redc1c4 (292479) — 4/18/2008 @ 1:21 pmHow long before the constituent municipalities of L.A. say “enough, already” and go their own way?
ras (fc54bb) — 4/18/2008 @ 1:26 pmThe San Fernando Valley areas tried that and got handed an almost insurmountable hurdle by the Legislature, requiring them to get a majority vote from the entire City allowing secession.
Another Drew (f9dd2c) — 4/18/2008 @ 2:13 pmI wonder when the LAPD is going to release the information on the negligent discharge that the female SWAT school candidate had with her H&K MP-5 on the 16th? She did it in front of Lt. Albanese with the weapon on full auto. Though only 2 rounds were fired, it would have been an automatic disqualifier for a male candidate! But I am willing to bet the farm that this will be over looked because she is a female. The department seems to splash the names and division of assignment of all Patrol Officers who have negligent discharges all over the news and blogs. Special treatment perhaps??? I think so. Now this female Officer is a great officer, but lets see if she gets preferential treatment? After all, the firing line is a controled environment, but point officer in the stick while making entry is not! Bratton is a complete failure as a leader, and we now see for a fact that Gulliani was the driving force behind change in NYC.
Steve (56a0a8) — 4/18/2008 @ 2:26 pmredc1c4, the LA County Sheriff’s dept is a better outfit than LAPD but not a lot better. Interestingly, the best LEO in California ( in my opinion … ) is Ventura County Sheriff’s – and they actually pioneered contract policing for municipalities in Ventura County. Several cities disbanded their municipal PD’s to contract with VCSD.
SPQR (26be8b) — 4/18/2008 @ 5:04 pmSPQR…
Another Drew (8018ee) — 4/18/2008 @ 6:19 pmContract Policing goes back to 1954 (IIRC) in L.A.Co. with the establishment of the City of Lakewood that year, and it’s contracting for police services with the Sheriff’s Dept – that’s why they call it the “Lakewood Plan”. Previously to that, all cities, upon incorporation, would establish their own, independent, PD’s.
Here’s a thought, FWIW.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 4/18/2008 @ 6:52 pmThe Libs love mantra. And, when it comes to the police, the preferred mantra is “Civilian Control”.
Well, what about oversight of the Police Commission?
If the Commission adopts this report, and it is as bad in its’ implementation as its’ critics contend, why not a petition drive to put this matter before the ultimate civilian oversight authority: The People?
This could be a step in taking back City Hall from the Downtown Power Structure. Maybe, put a little fear into those spineless hacks on the City Council; and, put The Alcalde on notice that people are watching, and he might not be a shoe-in for that higher office he covets.
Does anyone have experience of using this food industry recruitment agency? People Max Food Jobs I have been approached by one of their consultants regards a job, but I am fed up with having my time wasted by agencies.
iana edwards (b4314d) — 7/17/2008 @ 4:38 amAny comments and advice appreciated.
Matt (2680dc) — 8/15/2008 @ 3:42 pmJen Grasso was one of my FTOs when I was a recruit in LAPD’s Newton Division. She was a great cop, good teacher and very tactically sound. Things happen; the weapons discharge could’ve involved several factors. It was great to read that Grasso got into SWAT. Good job Grasso and good luck to you!! Stay Safe……..