Chief says FBI may investigate LA police conduct at rally

By: PETER PRENGAMAN - Associated Press | Thursday, May 3, 2007 7:52 PM PDT ∞

LOS ANGELES -- Police Chief William J. Bratton said Thursday he would meet with the FBI to discuss the possibility of a federal inquiry into his officers' use of force to break up an immigration rally this week.

Bratton told a news conference he had talked with the head of the FBI's Los Angeles office Thursday morning and would meet with him next week to "speak to the issues that occurred May 1 and also the idea of possibly having the FBI take a look at this."

The chief said he hoped a federal review would show the department has nothing to hide while dispelling any claims that police had targeted immigrants or immigrant rights' activists.

Already, police investigators plan to review extensive video of Tuesday's immigration rally where police clashed with the crowd in MacArthur Park, wielding batons and firing 240 rubber bullets.

Bratton has expressed "grave concern" about the incident and outlined investigations ranging from individual officers' actions up to command decision-making. He told a City Hall press conference Wednesday that the investigation will review police and news media videos.

News images showed police hitting TV journalists, shoving people who were walking way from officers and injuries people suffered from rubber bullets.

Rally organizers denounced the police action as brutal.

"They were pushing children, elderly, mothers with their babies and beating up on the media" said Angela Sanbrano, an organizer.

The clashes started around 6 p.m. Tuesday, when police tried to disperse demonstrators who moved into a street, according to rally organizers and reporters. Authorities said several people threw rocks and bottles at officers, who used batons to push the crowd back to the sidewalk and then cleared the park.

A police order to disperse was announced in English from a police helicopter, a likely ineffective tactic because of the noise and because many at the protest were Spanish-speakers, Bratton said at Wednesday's news conference.

Bratton said police were initially trying to deal with 50 to 100 "agitators."

"The individuals were there to provoke police," Bratton said. "Unfortunately, they got what they came for."

Police union leaders urged against a "rush to judgment."

"Our officers gave a legal dispersal order and were met with violence. In the coming days it will become clear what transpired," said Los Angeles Police Protective League President Bob Baker in a statement.

Seven officers suffered minor injuries, and another was pushed off his motorcycle, Bratton said. About 10 other people were treated for minor injuries, though authorities expected the number to rise.

The investigations already under way include an overall departmental review of tactics, an internal affairs investigation into the behavior of the officers and commanders on the scene, and an independent review by the Inspector General, the investigative arm of the Police Commission, which sets policy for the Police Department.

John Mack, president of the five-member Police Commission, said he was "deeply disturbed and very disappointed" by the news images.

"This was not a pretty picture. This incident raises serious concern regarding the use of force by some individual officers," said Mack, who is one of Bratton's bosses.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who represents the park district, also asked Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley to launch an independent investigation into the officers' actions.

He said police deliberately led troublemakers back to the peaceful marchers before beginning their assault.

"The only logical conclusion I can come to is that somebody wanted it to bleed into the march so that they can do some target practice on some of the immigrants that were marching," Nunez said.

News organizations also condemned the Police Department for its use of batons and riot guns against members of the media.

"We are sorry for what happened to our employees and find it unacceptable that they would be abused in that way when they were doing their job," said Alfredo Richard, spokesman for the Spanish-language network Telemundo, whose anchor and reporter were hurt.

Contributing to this report were Associated Press Writers Don Thompson in Sacramento and Jeremiah Marquez and Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles.

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