For Immediate Release
Contact:
Eric Rose (805) 624-0572 or
Ryan Oliver (310) 854-8272
Los Angeles, February 23, 2009 – The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) began running radio announcements today alerting the public to the LAPD’s dangerous practice of ignoring officer safety by violating its own helmet policy as well as California employment safety laws. The ads encourage citizens to contact their city council members to object to this practice.
Last week the LAPPL filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Los Angeles Police Department on the helmet issue. The lawsuit seeks a court order restraining the city from prohibiting, interfering or discouraging Los Angeles police officers from wearing protective safety helmets during crowd control missions at protests and demonstrations. The suit also directs the city to comply with all applicable safety laws and regulations in the future.
The radio ad and lawsuit stem from orders given to LAPD officers in advance of a planned pro-Palestinian demonstration on January 10. Against policy, officers were ordered not to wear their protective headgear, but instead told to keep their helmets “nearby.” They did not have access to headgear as the demonstration grew violent, and one officer was sent to the hospital with a head injury after being hit with a protestor’s sign. An LAPD horse that was wearing protective headgear was hit by a protester with a belt, but suffered no injuries.
“We are disappointed that the LAPD has ignored our concerns about officer safety and that we have to turn to radio commercials to put public pressure on the LAPD to follow its own policies,” said League President Paul M. Weber. “Sending police officers into potentially incendiary situations without proper protective gear puts everyone at risk. Our officers can’t protect the public if they are suffering injuries at the hands of demonstrators.”
An urgent message from the Los Angeles Police Protective League - representing 9800 LAPD officers:
LAPD’s misguided leadership is putting police officers' safety at risk by prohibiting them from wearing helmets at potentially violent protests. This puts everyone at risk: If officers can't protect themselves, they can't protect you or your family.
At a recent protest that turned violent, an officer who was ordered not to wear his helmet was hospitalized after a protester hit him in the head with a sign.
Reasonable requests to allow officers to wear safety equipment were flatly refused so the League had no alternative but to file a lawsuit as a preventive measure against needless officer injuries and expensive lawsuits the city and taxpayers should not have to pay.
Please call you city councilmember and tell them the LAPD should not place officers in danger with the "no helmet policy" and that the city should not be inviting lawsuits.
About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,000 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com
