JA wrote on May 6, 2007 8:54 PM:Thank God Bratten is chief and not Gates who would have had the photographers arrested for the audacity of filming the beatings.

Skip wrote on May 7, 2007 5:36 AM:This is a disgrace, it was clear the officers reacted to a hostile crowd and did give verbal warning to clear the area. The same thing is happening with the Border Patrol, morale is way down and officers are leaving due to the fact that their superiors will not back them up when they do their job. The LAPD can only do their jobs when the Mayor and Chief are out of town. These brave officers just ran afoul of Globalist politics like Ramos and Compean and now they are going to get railroaded because what they did upset the big Open Borders politicians. Bratton had to cancel a planned trip to Central America over this!

AmericanElizabeth wrote on May 7, 2007 5:36 AM:My first thoughts are not so much about the police chief, but about the mayor, who is an ardent supporter of "immigrants rights" for illegals. I felt this nagging thought that what is at stake here is to start getting in ONLY officers who will bow down completely to the OBL policies, and apparently these officers would not.

Jarda wrote on May 7, 2007 5:56 AM:The same sad story as in Europe. When you are a criminal favoured by political elite you are a King. But when you do not have this political support and you are law abiding citizen trying to secure your rights you are a bigot then if not something worse.

troubled? wrote on May 7, 2007 6:25 AM:This is like saying, everyone is getting a spanking and then I'll know I got the right one.

2ndamendsis wrote on May 7, 2007 6:29 AM:RE : Bratton said up to 60 members of Metro's B Platoon are no longer in the field as a result of the incident. >>>> What will he be replacing them with? ILLEGALS???

William wrote on May 7, 2007 6:30 AM:These brave officers just ran afoul of Globalist politics like Ramos and Compean and now they are going to get railroaded because what they did upset the big Open Borders politicians. They touched the untouchables!

Concerned-1 wrote on May 7, 2007 8:22 AM:In following this story one line jumps out at me: no serious injuries. Given this was an unfortunate turn of events, the source of the altercation was the agitaters demonstrating for the rights of illegal (criminal) aliens. Ultimatley, they, the bad guys, got exactly what they wanted with LAPD under the bus again. And, the media as usual is driving the bus.

Not amused wrote on May 7, 2007 8:39 AM:Sounds like there is no need for a process here, the chief and mayor have already convicted all of the cops, as have the media. Meanwhile, who is going to hold those that threw the rocks and bottles at the police accountable? That's right, no one, as that would not be politically correct. Now come on in FBI. Hey, the LAPD is recruiting now, openings occur from event to event. Job security guarenteed to those that do nothing at all, step right up.

esteban wrote on May 7, 2007 9:03 AM:Bratton, a true politician now. Somehow I bet the people who started the melee will not face any prosecution. What have we learned? It is ok to throw deadly missles at cops, and they CANNOT defend themselves or take action. Hey, sounds like our military rules of engagement!!!!! I give the USA 50 years left to exist as a superpower.

Concerned-1 wrote on May 7, 2007 10:25 AM:Just when you think the media is actually doing their job, something like this comes up. This is an inflated story with inflated headlines. If you (media) keep using these tactics with stories you will not only lose more readers, you will be supporting an environment where police and the military will not be able to do their jobs. Then you will be talking about a melee!

AEQUITAS wrote on May 7, 2007 10:27 AM:A stark admission of guilt by the police chief of L.A. This is contrary to the racists blogs that would portray these rogue cops as ones who were merely defendinig themselves. On the contrary, they were way overreacting and dishing out wholesale punishment to anyone and everyone they could see. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said recently that the renewal of the Chief's contract will be scrutinized, implying that the Chief has been lax and inefficient also. Now the Chief scrambles to put a good face on it all ~ for himself.

Osider wrote on May 7, 2007 11:27 AM:Once again nothing but narrow minded, racist people in this blog. You have innocent people who are not necessarily illegal but, Americans excercising there civil rights to assemble. LAPD did not follow proper procedure for disbanding large crowds by giving notice. They just stormed in and starting shooting at everyone even mothers and children. If you really condone that, you have some real personal issues. If we are going to shoot rubber bullets at Americans, we should be shooting them at BORDER not here!

gman wrote on May 7, 2007 11:41 AM:What part of illegal is racist? Everyone at that rally should have been Identified and deported. If I run a red light I get a ticket because it is illegal. I you break the law you should get punished. By ignoring Americas laws it is a direct slap in the face to all of the people that worked hard to come here legally. Wake up and get em out! If you see the LAPD in full riot gear coming towards you it may be a good idea to start getting out of there way but I guess that would be a smart thing to do.

Concerned-1 wrote on May 7, 2007 12:33 PM:LA's Mayor continually favors and plays to one segment of the population. So is he a racist?

Greg in Oceanside wrote on May 7, 2007 1:08 PM:Bratton has "sold-out" his officers. I have a friend on LAPD and his story is completely different. The LAPD uses very sound tactics. They used a common tactic called "block and sweep." They lined up officers on the bordering street, and used officers perpendicular to them to sweep the protesters out and away, allowing them to exit the area that was open to them. Essentially it was blocked on two sides of a box, with the other two sides open for the protesters to exit from. However, agitators decided to call their bluff and confront the officers, and other agitators threw bottles (some of which were frozen water and urine) and rocks. Some even tried to get behind the line of defense, which obviously isn’t supposed to be allowed for tactical reasons. Essentially, the protestors were there to cause trouble and the LAPD responded appropriately.

Concerned-1 wrote on May 7, 2007 1:53 PM:If the police and military are not allowed to do their jobs, there will be chaos. The media needs to realize this and stop trying to fan the flames of every story with politically correct/racial overtones.

TRILBY wrote on May 7, 2007 3:13 PM:I am amazed at the consistently racist reactions to ANYTHING that is published. Here we have somebody saying that the Los Angeles Mayor favors "one segment of the population," which is another racist lie. It's said only because the Mayor is Latino and for no other reason. Then we have those who jump to the conclusion that the protesters were "illegals," and that somehow brutalizing them was OK. The officers have been grounded and are facing disciplinary action for their rogue behavior. Comprende?

fedup wrote on May 7, 2007 6:26 PM:too bad the top cop is playing politics again instead of letting the guys on the street do their jobs!

Randy wrote on May 7, 2007 9:26 PM:I am sorry for the despair and hardships in Mexico. I am sorry Mexico cannot support it’s people. I am sorry that Mexican people have to suffer. Americans have also suffered. Southern Ca is not heaven for Mexicans. It is like being invaded by a homeless population. The immigration is hurting people at home. We are getting so much more crime and the economy is suffering in several areas. Medical is the main issue. Immigrants come here to receive medical and food. We can barely take care of our own much less an additional 1000 + immigrants per day. I sympathies with the sympathizer.- we want to lend a hand and we want to be humane, We cherish the history and rich Mexican culture. It is a very hard issue but we have got to put a stop to ALL Immigration and send some back to save our communities, medical systems, and other domestic organizations that are being stretched by the never ending immigration invasion. THAT IS THE TRUTH. I love my Mexican brothers and sisters but I do want any of them moving in with me or taking the food out of my mouth. This is what is happening to so many people on so many levels.

Syl wrote on May 7, 2007 9:29 PM:I find it ironic that the Macarthur Park incident is looking so closely at the L.A. Police Dept when the protesters, "Illegal Immigrants", disobeyed a government order to “disperse”! Illegal aliens vs. not following a Lawful order? Perhaps “they” were not given enough time to remove themselves? If “they” were given hours to remove themselves it still would not have been enough time for them. They thumb their noses at all of our laws and then get in your face with their nonsensically reasoning! This is exactly why these aliens need to be removed from our country; because they do not know how to follow “the Laws”! Not only in marches, but in every day living… they come here and still behave as they did in their own country… they sponge off our kindness and suck the working poor dry financially, move into our neighborhoods and disturb the peace of the neighbors with loud music and constant parties, and their trash junks up the our yards. And the aliens cry, in a foreign language rather than English, “we want a better way of life”. Really? You could have fooled me, I don’t see them making life better…

Andrew wrote on May 7, 2007 9:34 PM:I would like to comment on ... story concerning protest marchers. I believe the solution would be to have NO press coverage of these protests and no police present and let them destroy business ventures and listen to the people scream racial injustice.

Rod wrote on May 7, 2007 10:01 PM:Those immigration rallies are nothing but a liability to the Police, and the tax payers. Why they are sanctioned is beyond my comprehension. It's just an opprotunity for the protesters to break the law in mass! One giant unlawful assembly is an appropriate definition. Almost every single time, there are confrontations between the rebels and the Police! Do you know how much money in police overtime alone, it costs the tax payers? Thousands! The end doesn't justify the means. Forbearance will lead to destruction.

Rubio wrote on May 7, 2007 10:06 PM:Inappropriate behavior of police… how about the years of inappropriate behavior of illegal aliens? There is no reason for an investigation of the police department. Rather, spend the time and money to remove these aliens. Send them back, along with their children, and tell them to clean up their country if they “want a better way of life”! Simple solution to an out of control irritating problem! Sincerely, One Working Poor Person supporting the Sponges.

Adam wrote on May 8, 2007 1:50 AM:On May 1, LAPD stated that officers were injured by thrown projectiles and reacted to the assault in riot formation. It can be argued - in retrospect - that police used excessive measures. However: LAPD is one of the last lines of defense left in Los Angeles. I am afraid that Los Angeles is a lost city and has truely become Los Angeles, Mexico.

esteban wrote on May 8, 2007 8:50 AM:Bratton is a gutless coward. he is now a full fledged politician. He passed the test by screwing his own troops. Bratton, you lost all the respect of your men. You had it all, now you have nothing.

Gary in Murrieta wrote on May 8, 2007 9:11 AM:A police officer often feels that the whole world hates them, that is one reason they become so close to one another. When one of their own betrays them to that outside world, it is devastating as well as inexcusable. LAPD Chief William Bratton has committed just such a betrayal. Thank God for the tough and professional officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, they and those like them seem to be the only men left who are willing to stand up to the violent thugs now invading our cities.

Marc wrote on May 8, 2007 12:20 PM:I'm fed up with this "Make the Cops out to be the bad guys" mentality! Do you want to live in a community without Cops? How many people do you think will join the Police force in the future with the citizens not supporting them, even EAGER to nail them to the wall if they make a split-second decision that might not stand up to months of slow-motion replay scrutiny? The alternative is for the Officer to hesitate and evaluate the situation from every angle while the CRIMINAL orphans his children and widows his wife. THE COPS ARE THE GOOD GUYS - give them the respect they deserve. They're the only thing standing between us and anarchy! It's real simple - if you're in a situation that involves the Police - do what they say, don't resist or attack them, and you'll stay alive."

esteban wrote on May 8, 2007 2:46 PM:Congrats to the racist agitator protestors...you showed the world that it is ok to assault cops with deadly objects and they CANNOT respond and/or defend themselves. You showed that they must allow the melee to continue and they cannot defend the city. You've shown that the administration will not be behind the ground officers during confrontations. Good job.

Adam wrote on May 9, 2007 5:55 AM:Now that we know that the Police are indeed the Bad Guys, the sky is the limit for what the ... masses can demand. What's next? Riots in the streets? And these demonstrations are about Illegal Alien foreign citizens who should not even be here in the first place. Our country is growing weaker by the day.

Roger wrote on May 11, 2007 1:12 AM:Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were quick to condemn the actions of the Los Angeles police during the immigration rally on May Day. Since neither was at MacArthur Park to personally witness the so-called melee, as was the case with me, I have as much legitimacy to make a few observations as they have. Nowhere in the Associated Press article was there mention that the majority of demonstrators were probably illegal aliens. The story was clearly biased against the police except for one sentence alleging the police "responded after being pelted by rocks and bottles." No mention was made of the contents of the bottles. No mention was made that Los Angeles is a politically proclaimed sanctuary city and, therefore, refuses to enforce federal immigration laws. If the leaders of a city side with illegal aliens, instead of supporting their own police force, before the occurrence has been properly investigated, it shows that sanctuary is more important to the politicians than law enforcement. It also supports the concept that these leaders have been so indoctrinated or de-sensitized by the propaganda of immigrant sympathizers that they panic at any perceived mistreatment by their own police. There has been no published information of arrests of law breakers so I conclude there were none. So where is the crime? The police department is left holding the bag, but sanctuary is alive and well in Los Angeles.