1992 L.A. Riots

[farmerjoe]

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

If you watch the entire thing, it really puts the hammer to the media (LA Times) for stirring racial tension in the community, and outlines a little better as to why the officers were found not guilty in the state trial.

[angelinointexas]

If you watch the entire thing, it really puts the hammer to the media (LA Times) for stirring racial tension in the community, and outlines a little better as to why the officers were found not guilty in the state trial.

I will watch the rest. As a kid in high school at the time, I remember the media stirring it up for sure. I remember they only showed Latasha harlins getting shot in the back, and didn't show when Latasha punched the lady 3 times and knocked her down. I actually didn't see the punching part until years later on youtube.

Of course the Korean lady should have gone to jail, but Koreans were a sacrificial lamb, the way the media portrayed it over and over only the latter part, making it seem like a racist shooting, instead of an idiotic shooting out of anger.

The Chandler Family is the most anti-LA family in the history of LA. They're pieces of f-cking sh-t.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Those pictures with the deputies and their helmets..... and no GOLD colored keeper snaps (rolls eyes). Those were the days when LASD was controlled by the Sheriff alone and NOT a woman attorney with ZERO police experience in a new unit called "Constitutional Policing" (aka: "Constipated Policiing).

Oh man, those were the days and how times have changed for the worse in the county.

[angelinointexas]

^ Actually crime is a lot lower now than it was back then in Los Angeles.

[Che762x39]

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.

The Hawthorne Mall is still boarded up. I wish I had thought about taking pictures.

The week after the riots I was asked to speak at a career day at Markham Middle School in Watts. I was a FTO and I had a trainee with me and it was 99% positive. Of course we had people who ran from us when we made a turn. They must be thinking we was looking for them.

[I Swan]

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.

Just like that scene from the intro of TJ Hooker where Heather Locklear throws the baton at the fleeing suspect!

[micro911]

Just like that scene from the intro of TJ Hooker where Heather Locklear throws the baton at the fleeing suspect!

That was what I was thinking after I did it...It feels kind of funny.........

[Dump1567]

Nice pics.
I went with the 40th MP out of Los Al. Stayed for 3 weeks. We lived in the LAPD academy gym for one of those weeks.

We basically went on patrol with Newton division. Bought a lot of t-shirts (still have some). Although my buddies took a lot of pics, I was too young and cool to want to be in any of them. Wish I had at least one now.

I'm pretty sure the below pic is of my Platoon leader. I was actually to the right of him when this photo was taken. Again, I was too cool and walked out of the shot when the photographer took the pic.

[edgerly779]

What stops a riot is national guardsmen with an automatic weapon and no clear rules of engagement. (quote) An American marine on sentry duty beats a locked gate everytime. R. Lee Ermey in area of Khe San 1967. Memories of John (Jack) Walton sp forces Sgt killed there , Heir to the Walmart empire.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Awesome pics

[Che762x39]

... Memories of John (Jack) Walton sp forces Sgt killed there , Heir to the Walmart empire.

John Walton 58, died in a plane crash in Wyoming 2005.

[417atty]

Although my buddies took a lot of pics, I was too young and cool to want to be in any of them. Wish I had at least one now.

That would have been cool to have a pic in military BDU patrolling L.A. Out of four rolls of film that I took during the riot, I'm only in about 5 pics. Those were taken when I handed the camera off to someone. I sure wish I had more but those are the ones I'll show my (future) grandkids someday when I tell war stories about the "hot years" in South Los Angeles.

[Tacit Blue]

I keep hearing this story floating around the National Guard and LASD/LAPD coppers but at the time, the National Guard and police had little experience working together. The story goes LAPD/LASD would yell " cover me" then the Guard would open fire..Interoperability issues.

Not sure how much of that is true considering the Guard had logistic issues with ammo when they first deployed. I've heard this story so many times.

[DrunkN_MastR]

Thanks for sharing.

I remember hearing a story that some civilians started guarding the firefighters after they were being targeted, but before the pd and national guard came in. They supposedly armed themselves with machetes and bats, did some searching but I couldn't find anything to confirm. Anyone know if there's any truth to this? I only ask because THAT would have made for a hell of a picture.

[jimmykan]

I keep hearing this story floating around the National Guard and LASD/LAPD coppers but at the time, the National Guard and police had little experience working together. The story goes LAPD/LASD would yell " cover me" then the Guard would open fire..Interoperability issues.

Not sure how much of that is true considering the Guard had logistic issues with ammo when they first deployed. I've heard this story so many times.

I see how that would happen.