CommentsRANTZ AND RAVEZ-People need to cooperate with the directions of law enforcement officers and not resist or fail to follow their directions. That way, everyone can be on their way and the law enforcement officers can go EOW (End of Watch) and return the next day to continue to “Protect and Serve” you, your family and the community-at-large.
Recent news stories accompanied by video continue to show the use of force by police officers attempting to enforce laws that are established by our elected officials to keep us safe. The most recent illustration of this was broadcast on our local TV news.
It involved two uncooperative women on a Metro Red Line Train who resisted a number of uniform LAPD officers while they were attempting to have these passengers conduct themselves in a civilized manner.
One of the women reportedly had her feet on a train seat and the second women became involved in the situation, arguing with the officers and ultimately spitting on one of them. The entire event was caught on video by not only train passengers but also by the bodycams worn by the officers as well as multiple video cameras on the Metro Red Line Train.
The LAPD will be conducting an internal investigation on the use of force by these officers, which is the routine procedure whenever an LAPD Officer uses force.
Being a Metro Orange and Red Line rider, I can remember many times when passengers would eat, drink, yell, argue with other passengers and put their feet on the seats on the public transit lines. When the LA Sheriff’s Department had the contract with the Metro Lines for security in the LA region, I would seldom if ever see a deputy on a bus or train. They would be at the entrance and exit points of the lines to check and see if passengers paid for the ride.
In July, when the LAPD was given the security contract for the Metro Transit Operations, LAPD officers and supervisors began riding on buses and trains, engaging with passengers and transit operators. It is a refreshing sign to see uniformed LAPD police personnel on the transit lines, increasing safety for both passengers and operators alike.
A recent report shows that ridership on the Metro Transit Lines is down 15%. Could this be due to a concern about safety from potential riders or the fact that many people fail to pay and simply jump the barriers to access the Metro Transit System.
Before you join the crowd and criticize the LAPD for attempting to establish safety on the Metro Transit Lines, ride on a Metro Bus or Train and see for yourself how some of the current riders fail to comply with common decency in public.
Remember, all you need to do is cooperate with the directions of the officer and everyone can continue to have a Happy Day.
Current LAPD Crime Info
With the start of 2018, the LAPD statistics are still being calculated. The good news is that, as of January 13, 2018, the LAPD is currently at 10,060 personnel. I will provide the latest crime stats in my next edition of RantZ and RaveZ.
(Dennis P. Zine is a former and retired LAPD Supervisor, former and retired 12-year Los Angeles City Councilman and current General Manager at Bell Canyon in Ventura County.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
