For Immediate Release
Contact:
Eric Rose (805) 624-0572
Los Angeles, January 31, 2009 Two thousand nine is seeing the continuation of a deeply disturbing criminal trend, unprovoked attacks on LAPD officers.
This morning an off-duty LAPD officer was shot in front of his home in City Terrace. The officer was leaving his home when he was shot once in the chest by two men. Earlier this month, two LAPD officers came under attack by a man with a shotgun – luckily, they were not hit.
“The investigation in the shooting is being led by the Sheriff's Department who is working relentlessly and cohesively with the LAPD to ensure that the suspects are caught and brought to justice. Our message this morning to the suspects is simple: law enforcement is going to work together and combine resources. We will find you and bring you to justice,” said Paul M. Weber, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League.
“In 2008, LAPD officers were shot at 14 times. These are not exchanges of gunfire between criminals and officers – these are cold-blooded attempts to murder unsuspecting officers without any warning. One of these shootings resulted in the death of Officer Randal David Simmons, a 27-year veteran of the LAPD, who was murdered in the line of duty on Thursday, February 7, 2008.
“In addition to the shootings, LAPD officers were also the victims of assaults with a deadly weapon 168 times and the victims of a battery (physical altercation) 358 times in 2008, bringing the total number of vicious attacks on LAPD officers to 540,” said Weber.
“Los Angeles is a city protected by dedicated LAPD officers, who deserve all the tools and all the support the community can possibly provide. We know that many Angelenos appreciate that LAPD officers work long hours, nights and weekends and endure the hardship of separation from home and family. We very much appreciate the support that's been shown to us by so many residents, and we have a message for those who attack police officers – no criminal is going to be able to deter us from doing our work to make Los Angeles the safest big city in America,” added Weber.
“Public safety requires a strong two-way partnership. The LAPPL calls on community leaders to continue to speak up in defense of the brave men and women in blue who risk their lives every day to keep Los Angeles safe for all of us. We need to make it clear that Los Angeles is a city in which violence on law enforcement is never tolerated, and that those who threaten our police officers threaten our own communities,” concluded Weber.
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 can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com
