Contact: Eric Rose (805) 624-0572 or
Paul Haney (626) 755-4759

Los Angeles, October 6, 2009 - In response to news that the District Attorney has decided to file charges against three LAPD officers, Paul M. Weber, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), issued the following statement:

The LAPPL has learned that District Attorney Steve Cooley’s office has decided to prosecute Officers Richard Amio, Evan Samuel and Manuel Ortiz.
While we take these charges very seriously, it’s important for the public to remember that the officers are innocent until proven guilty and the facts of this case must be heard before rushing to judgment. Los Angeles police officers perform a tough and dangerous job every day and oftentimes need to make split-second, life-or-death decisions. They deserve the benefit of the doubt and no one should jump to conclusions before all of the evidence is heard.