When the LAPD's union asks for support, a political chess move would be to our advantage, especially when their livelihood is at stake. With the elections coming up in 2012 and Mitch McConnell and the Republican's goals is to make President Obama at one-term president a must at the expense which includes sacrificing our safety for a permanent Republican government, we could truly use the madness as Occupiers to our advantage and the opportunity to do so can garner support from the men and women from the LAPD.
The following is from the Los Angeles Police Protective League's blog.
Fully funding the LAPD would save more lives
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 12/06/2011 @ 09:46 AM
More officers and better policing. That’s what a Los Angeles Times editorial stated recently as key reasons why L.A. is a much safer city today.
The editorial, “L.A.'s triumph over crime,” makes the irrefutable case for full funding of public safety. This article should be reviewed by every elected official at City Hall whenever budget priorities are being set.
Recalling the bad old days when L.A. recorded 1,000 murders a year, the Times stated that 800 families this Thanksgiving weekend enjoyed a holiday that would have been barren had they lost a loved one to a murder – “a social victory for which every resident of this city should be appreciative.”
Beyond saving lives, fighting crime with a fully-funded police department is the best investment the city government can make. As the editorial pointed out, for every crime there is a cost — property that is lost, medical bills to pay, workdays missed and the more difficult-to-measure effects of psychological damage to survivors. Using a methodology developed by researchers at Iowa State University, the Times calculates a savings of $1.36 billion annually for Los Angeles by eliminating 800 murders a year since the early 1990s.
While we give our thanks to the Times’ editorial board for reminding everyone of the importance of keeping public safety as our city’s No. 1 priority, we can’t help but wonder how many more people would be alive for the holidays if the city fully funded the LAPD. The Department estimates its budget is currently underfunded by $50 million and its cash overtime budget by $100 million.
We urge the residents of Los Angeles to join us and take the Public Safety First Pledge and oppose any reductions in the number of LAPD officers protecting our neighborhoods.
There is a call for support and with their demands and our mantra of: You deserve a raise, can work hand-in-hand to get out message out. We may not get City Hall back, especially after they contaminated Solidarity Park with poison, but we can at least allow the officers to know we do care for them and that we will do everything within our power to support them. Even when it's going to City Hall and voicing out support.
5 Comments
So this is why they are not
Submitted by lizsavage on
So this is why they are not getting paid to arrest occupiers? Interesting. I was told many of the police seemed uncomfortablewith the arrests, via the arrested. I have seen the LAPD treat us differently as time went on at the occupation. Many who were first "annoyed" with us, seemed to either warm up, or become highly bemused by our senitment, and hard work Many started to ask us, why we were there, and what we had accomplished. When we told them the various civic missions we had set out upon already, and the other protests for social change, including for them, with LACERS which has been doing a terrible job investing the retirement funds of our civil service employees all over the city, they seemed shocked we were so dedicated, to so many small causes within the greater cause, to create change for all.
The LAPD was never an intended ememy, go back to the videos of the first day at Pershing square, and you will see this stated simply enough.
This is the message we started with... its time to remember it!
My words represent myself and not Occupy Los Angeles. @lizsavage on Twitter
Funny thing is, most cops don't
Submitted by TimFromLA on
Funny thing is, most cops don't know what we know. Seriously. They don't know about: NDAA, Gramm Leach Bliley, NAFTA/CAFTA and its effects or any of the rules and regs that stifles them and their careers. When you do talk to them and build their trust, they are in awe. And many were in shock when the group I'm in: WeAreChangeLA recorded an interview we had with the former chief and his comments: http://bit.ly/tMtT8w. This is the mentality the officers face everyday and most didn't know this. Safe to say, the chief was pissed when I shared this with their union and officers. See how we can use this to our advantage?
TimFromLA
Support the LAPD?
Submitted by Mahayana on
So we should support them so that next time there can be 1500 of them when they raid us? I will support the LAPD once I find out what side they are on. Are they there to uphold the constitution & protect the citizens, or to protect the interests of the 1%? I'm not saying all LAPD are bad. A lot are just doing their jobs and until 2 months ago, have never been faced with questioning their job. At a time when we are unsure of what role the police will play in the rapidly evolving movement, the worst thing we could do is to support increasing the number of police officers there are.
There are plenty of ways to reach out to the LAPD. The best way is to communicate with them, which I've seen a lot more of in the recent days. I saw on a livestream one cop communicating with OLA via the human mic. How cool is that? We have to relay to them that we really appreciate them putting their lives on the line combatting criminals, rapists, murderers, etc... but they have to realize that WE are not the criminals. The more we talk to them like humans - instead of as the enemy - the less likely they will be to follow orders in silencing our first amendment rights.
Things are going to get UGLY I fear. The last thing I want is MORE cops. Especially when I hear that our federal gov't is supplying the police forces worldwide with military equipment that can be used against us.
http://www.businessinsider.com/program-1033-military-equipment-police-2011-12
http://www.businessinsider.com/tampa-police-roll-out-a-tank-to-deal-with-a-few-dozen-protesters-2011-11
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. -Abe
Is dialogue possible?
Submitted by Lowflyin_Lolana on
You said something in another blog of yours that really resonated: The LAPD, and LA Sheriffs, too--have no idea why people are protesting.
It's impossible to get news via MSM. No one is reporting on Fukushima, where the most serious disaster of our time is playing out. No one is reporting on the excellent questions about 9/11 (you'd think if a whole building fell down that fast people would ask questions..or at least ask to see the photos that the government somehow doesn't of the "massive damage" that probably didn't even happen to that building, because if it did, you know cameras would have found it. And what happened to Barry Jennings?
See, I actually really like cops. I mean---I believe good cops are the backbone of our society. And when cops treat people like they were treated here for demonstrating, something is seriously wrong. I appreciate that these guys are severely traumatized by doing their job and people really don't seem to know about that, either.
I often think if cops knew some of the stuff that goes on, they'd have a whole different birds-eye-view of things.
But are they willing to sit down in a room? And talk? Because it just doesn't seem likely after what went down. I know they're just following orders. But sometimes orders are unlawful. And the Constitution, last I checked, superceded City Ordinances. Plus, if they're so obsessed about the law, why were these people held for days on misdemeanor counts in torturous conditions? If they're so concerned about the law, why are they busting druggies while the white collar criminals run things illegally and change laws to suit their whim, and demand showdowns to satisfy political ends?
It's especially sickening the media spin that's been put on L.A. I think for that reason, there will be no listening in the police depts. When enough people think the story is that the LAPD and The LA Sheriff's Department did a great job, that will become the popular story. And that means many officers and brass will not believe that what they did was wrong.
I did write to the Mayor and police chief about this via a petition, but the LA Sheriff wasn't on that petition and they were the ones who inflicted the worst abuse.
I really like your posts. I have said all along that I wished cops and occupiers could get together on some things for real, but I just don't see any evidence yet that this can happen. Cops want to keep their jobs too. Fear is the word of the day, it seems. It makes me sad.
You said something in another
Submitted by TimFromLA on
You said something in another blog of yours that really resonated: The LAPD, and LA Sheriffs, too--have no idea why people are protesting.
The reason why most LEOs don't know why we're protesting is because there is no true dialogue. This is true because, without knowledge, with absence of knowledge, the 1% has the power to control.
It's impossible to get news via MSM. No one is reporting on Fukushima, where the most serious disaster of our time is playing out. No one is reporting on the excellent questions about 9/11 (you'd think if a whole building fell down that fast people would ask questions..or at least ask to see the photos that the government somehow doesn't of the "massive damage" that probably didn't even happen to that building, because if it did, you know cameras would have found it. And what happened to Barry Jennings?
There is the Thom Hartmann Show, Mike Malloy.
See, I actually really like cops. I mean---I believe good cops are the backbone of our society. And when cops treat people like they were treated here for demonstrating, something is seriously wrong. I appreciate that these guys are severely traumatized by doing their job and people really don't seem to know about that, either.
And that's why it's important to create a dialogue amongst people who know and the cops. The talking points on the right makes it tough, but know how to communicate properly and you will see change.
I often think if cops knew some of the stuff that goes on, they'd have a whole different birds-eye-view of things.
Exactly and that's why I do what I do.
But are they willing to sit down in a room? And talk? Because it just doesn't seem likely after what went down. I know they're just following orders. But sometimes orders are unlawful. And the Constitution, last I checked, superceded City Ordinances. Plus, if they're so obsessed about the law, why were these people held for days on misdemeanor counts in torturous conditions? If they're so concerned about the law, why are they busting druggies while the white collar criminals run things illegally and change laws to suit their whim, and demand showdowns to satisfy political ends?
That's why the group I am with WeAreChangeLA created a program called Talk To A Cop. But it's more than just chatting. You need to know the basics, the foundation why they need us. I can talk cop and have their undivided attention. I hope one day people will want to learn how to talk and use the talking points to our advantage.
It's especially sickening the media spin that's been put on L.A. I think for that reason, there will be no listening in the police depts. When enough people think the story is that the LAPD and The LA Sheriff's Department did a great job, that will become the popular story. And that means many officers and brass will not believe that what they did was wrong.
Hence the 1.28 when the lawsuit flies.
I did write to the Mayor and police chief about this via a petition, but the LA Sheriff wasn't on that petition and they were the ones who inflicted the worst abuse.
Were you assaulted?
I really like your posts. I have said all along that I wished cops and occupiers could get together on some things for real, but I just don't see any evidence yet that this can happen. Cops want to keep their jobs too. Fear is the word of the day, it seems. It makes me sad.
It can happen and it has. We just have to be willing to swallow OUR pride and take the first step to them. To be proactive and not reactive.
TimFromLA
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