At a meeting disrupted and delayed by protests against police use-of-deadly force, the head of the Los Angeles Police Commission announced that minimizing it is one of his two primary goals, along with reducing the crime rate that has surged upward in the past year.
"I believe we can work towards vastly reducing the number of use-of-force incidents through extensive training and modifying our tactics," said Matthew Johnson, outlining his vision two months after being appointed president of the commission.
Commission meetings have been the target of an ongoing series of disruptive demonstrations by the Black Lives Matter movement and other activist groups protesting killings by police.
"The LAPD, like police departments across our country, is facing a crisis of confidence with minority communities, particularly African-Americans," said Johnson, a successful entertainment attorney who is also African-American. "As a result of both real and perceived racial disparities in policing, there are deeping wounds in Los Angeles and cities around the country."
Johnson's presentation was the main item on the agenda. But before he spoke, demonstrators rose and shouted, "shut it down," and Johnson recessed the meeting and ordered the room cleared.
The protest moved to the lobby of the LAPD administation building, where police declared an illegal assembly, and arrested two men for misdemeanor failure to disperse.
When the meeting resumed, the audience was allowed to return, but by then most had already left, and the public seating area of the auditorium when Johnson spoke and, in effect, validated the emphasis the protestors have placed on the use of force issue.
Police Chief Charlie Beck reported to the commission that so far this year there have been 45 use-of-lethal force incidents, compared to 23 for all of 2014.
"This is an alarming development," Johnson said. He also volunteered context, noting that force is used in only 1.5 percent of LAPD arrests.
With support from other board members, Johnson asked Inspector General Alexander Bustamante to analyze use of lethal force over the past decade, and to compare LAPD with other large law enforcement agencies.
Earlier this year, the department committed itself to equipping field officers with body cameras, and to revising training involving four components: public trust and preservation of life, constitutional
policing, handling persons suspected of being mentally ill, and use of force de-escalation techniques.
The intent of reducing use-of-deadly-force incidents should improve safety for officers as well, said Commissioner Kathleen Kim.
"I believe this agenda supports where the department needs to go," said Chief Beck.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League issued a statement expressing concern about the increase in incidences of officer-involved shootings, emphasizing the importance of taking a "balanced" approach.
"We are also concerned about the increased resistance and violence against our officers that can lead to these incidences," said Protective League President Craig Lally in a written statement.
"We also want to be clear that our sense of today's meeting, which we attended, and the comments of Commission President Matt Johnson, is that the Commission is taking a balance look at policing in Los Angeles and wants to work with the LAPD and the community to lower crime rates and increase the security of all."
Before the room was cleared and Johnson presented his vision, he faced renewed criticism from protestors.
"Stop carrying water for a system that tokenizes you," said Melina Adbullah, PhD, an original member and organizer for Black Lives Matter. Abdullah also used the word "murderous" in describing LAPD.
In an interview with NBC4 after the meeting, Johnson emphasized his plan is not in response to protests, but the vision he brought with him when Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed him to the commission.
"I think we have an opportunity here to make some transformative change," said Johnson.
In a separate initiative, Chief Beck told the commission the department is creating a new honor, the "Preservation of Life Medal" for officers who resolve threatening and dangerous situation. Beck said in his view it will be comparable in stature to the Medal of Valor.
