1992 L.A. Riots

[JohnnyMtn]

A question for LEOs who were there - had you seen citizens walking around with a handgun in their waistband and those citizens weren't up to looting and no-good, would you have stopped such a person or would you have looked the other way and just allowed the person to carry?
I'm curious because I want to understand the LEO mindset during an unprecedented event like that.

[Dutch3]

I had already moved to Nor Cal when this event occurred, but having grown up down there, I was keeping track of what was happening via radio and TV. My folks were in Simi Valley (still are) and I was concerned the violence would spread there due to that being the location the verdict was issued.

I was at work on May 1st, when a former student walked onto the campus of Lindhurst High School, just across the river from my workplace in Yuba City and started shooting people. Some of my coworkers had attended school there or had siblings still attending. Everyone was flipping out, and there was a sense that the LA violence was spreading elsewhere.

For some reason, I didn't have a vehicle that day and my wife arrived with our two young children to pick me up from work. She told me that on the drive through Marysville, everyone was 'going crazy'. I grabbed the biggest wrench I had in my toolbox, something like a 1 3/4" that was about 2 feet long and kept it in my lap on the drive out of town. People were running lights, driving on the wrong side of the road, and somebody had set a car on fire on one of the bridges. I was greatly relieved when I reached the back roads and drove the rest of the 20 miles home without incident. Crazy times.

[all-cal]

Thank you Democrats for creating that sense of entitlement which enabled this to happen.

[Swatter911]

A question for LEOs who were there - had you seen citizens walking around with a handgun in their waistband and those citizens weren't up to looting and no-good, would you have stopped such a person or would you have looked the other way and just allowed the person to carry?
I'm curious because I want to understand the LEO mindset during an unprecedented event like that.

Saw several, stopped and checked them out, sent them on their way with their guns.

[micro911]

I carried an issued AR-15 during the riot. LAPD did not have them. They saw my AR, and they were very envious.

[Ralston]

Northern CA guy. I got to watch on TV. Was still in high school at the time. Thanks for sharing your pictures and stories. I wonder if we'll have more riots of this scale again. I hope not.

[pitbuljake]

I was sent to Florence and Normandie the first night. Worked 12 hour shifts for 2 weeks straight without a day off. It was one tough time.

I was a Level One Reserve Officer back then with Hawthorne PD. On day one I was ordered into work, I had to leave my fulltime job mid-shift. My (Then wife)drove maybe 35 miles and brought me clothes. (in a safe area of course).

I worked three days straight (12 hour shifts), sleeping/showering at the station. Our city looked like a war zone. The Hawthorne mall was completed looted, as were many other stores/businesses throughout the city. By day three we had both the National Guard and Santa Barbra County Sheriffs Deputies patrolling the streets along side our guys.

I don't remember how many people we hooked up, but at some point it became more about protecting businesses from looters and trying to preserve peace. Many shots fired calls, mostly citizens trying to protect life and property. I don't remember arresting any of them folks.

One evening a group of us we were patrolling the area of Rosecrans/Prairie on foot when a shot rang out in a shopping center parking lot. Turns out a shop owner accidentally shot himself in the a$@ while putting his gun in his back pocket,,,,Lol.

It was a time in my life I will never forget. I saw the worst side of humanity during that time. I really hope I never experience again, though time will tell! Thanks for posting.


Jake

[micro911]

I had a guy running away from me after he came out of a store with stolen items. I ran after him, but could not get closer. I threw my Streamlight flashlight as hard as I can at him. Luckily, it hit the back of his knee, and he went down. My flashlight hit the pavement very hard. But, it still worked. I booked the guy for burglary, and carrying a concealed weapon after I found a small pistol from his back pocket.

Those were wild days for sure.

[417atty]

1992 L.A. Riots, continued

I carried an issued AR-15 during the riot. LAPD did not have them. They saw my AR, and they were very envious.

I wish our squad had at least one AR with us. We barely had enough shotguns to equip one per unit. Some deputies even brought their own rifles and shotguns.

One looter who was stopped after curfew was in a car packed with stolen goods. He also had a loaded Valmet rifle right next to him on the front seat. Thankfully, he was arrested without incident. Here's the pic.

08 - AK and carload of stolen goods.jpg
It's hard to see it but the deputy in the center is holding an AK rifle. A fully loaded 30-round magazine is on the hood of the patrol car. The deputy on the right is holding a department-issued Ithaca Model 37. It was most likely loaded with #4 buckshot.

For several weeks after the riots, gangsters were rolling in convoys. Crips and Bloods had called a truce and declared law enforcement as the common enemy. When we made traffic stops we tried to have at least one cover deputy with an AR.


32 -.jpg
Top - A group of people from the neighborhood standing guard in front of a local store. Their efforts paid off and the store was spared. Many of them were holding metal rods and sticks. I didn’t want to know how many were packing heat. I commend them for their courage.
Middle - Busted.
Bottom - Part of our squad.



32 - Limo & O.jpg
Top - A burned out limo sat on Normandie Ave at Century Blvd and smoldered for days. I never found out who was in the limo.
Bottom - A return to normalcy… Getting coffee at the “O” (Kindle’s Donuts) several days after the riots.



35 - Western Surplus looted and burned (a week later).jpg
Here’s Western Surplus after it was looted and burned. This store was in LAPD’s patrol area and just a few blocks north of us. Local gang members took over a thousand guns along with cases of ammunition before setting it ablaze. This store had all of our favorite and popular brands such as Davis, Bryco, Lorcin, etc. We were recovering these stolen guns off the streets for many years after the riot. This pic was taken about a week after the riot ended. Note the clean street and sidewalk area. Locals banded together to clean up the mess left by the rioters.



36 - Florence & Normandie - where it all started (a week later).jpg
This is where it began – the intersection of Florence and Normandie Ave. This is a few blocks north of our patrol area. Local residents cleaned the area of debris.

[angelinointexas]

All the police ran away from Koreatown, and went to Beverly Hills to protect them.

Koreans were left to fend for themselves.

[417atty]

Our city looked like a war zone. The Hawthorne mall was completed looted, as were many other stores/businesses throughout the city.

We drove past the mall a couple times when that whole area was under siege. There was trash and debris everywhere and swarms of people were running in and out of the mall. VCRs, CD players, and other small electronics were like the tablets and smart phones that we cherish today. I think the mall property remained vacant for decades.

[M76]

Great pics, thank you for sharing

I wonder if we'll have more riots of this scale again. I hope not.

If we do, White folks better turn Korean

[asabino]

Great pics OP, great stories from many of the LEO's. Thank you for your service and be safe.

[farmerjoe]

All the police ran away from Koreatown, and went to Beverly Hills to protect them.

Koreans were left to fend for themselves.

Good documentary. Skip to the 42 mins mark and they'll cover the event from the Korean prospective

https://youtu.be/An8LJ_fv0mo

[angelinointexas]

Good documentary. Skip to the 42 mins mark and they'll cover the event from the Korean prospective


https://youtu.be/An8LJ_fv0mo

Thanks for that link. You were right. It was a pretty good documentary and it really did tell the Korean perspective.