1992 Los Angeles Riots

[thehunted777]

Hello again fellow Calgunners. I have been really interested in documentaries of the Los Angeles Riots of 1992. I work Security for LASD, and I always ask the old timer deputies, sergeants, and even the brass of there stories of the riots. Each story is very different and very interesting. I would love to hear from any of you guys that were there during the riots, any stories that you guys are willing to share. Thanks and look forward to hearing from you guys!

[417atty]

Here's a thread that I started last year on the 25th anniversary of the riots:

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1329139

Here's another from the Survival and Preps forum:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/archive/index.php/t-847226.html

[thehunted777]

Awesome, thanks for sharing that post!

[micro911]

The riot started on Wednesday. I finished the day shift and went home. But, I was recalled to report back to the station at 1800 and worked 12 hour shifts 1800-0600 for 2 weeks without a day off. It was a wild two weeks.

At one of the stores, I saw a guy running away with something in his hand after getting out of a busted store. I could not get close to him, so I threw my Streamlight flashlight at him, and it caught his knee. He fell down and I arrested him. Later I found out he had a pistol in his pocket. I guess it was a cool arrest. I booked him at our mobile booking station and went on to the next one.

I took 3 rolls of photos and it brings back the memory everytime I see the photos.

[thehunted777]

The riot started on Wednesday. I finished the day sheif and went home. But, I was recalled to report back to the station at 1800 and worked 12 hour shifts 1800-0600 for 2 weeks without a day off. It was a wild two weeks.

At one of the stores, I saw a guy running away with something in his hand after getting out of a busted store. I could not get close to him, so I threw my Streamlight flashlight at him, and it caught his knee. He fell down and I arrested him. Later I found out he had a pistol in his pocket. I guess it was a cool arrest. I booked him at our mobile booking station and went on to the next one.

I took 3 rolls of photos and it brings back the memory everytime I see the photos.

Wow super cool story, thanks for sharing! Haha what a great hook, the streamlight! Love it!

[micro911]

Wow super cool story, thanks for sharing! Haha what a great hook, the streamlight! Love it!

After the Streamlight hit the guy, it fell to the pavement very hard. I thought it was broken, but it still works well to this date.

[jsmith8918]

My recently-retired LEO partner was a National Guardsman during the riots. I don’t remember most of th details of his deployment other than this one detail: he and the others with him were deployed to handle active looting incidents and, though they had rifles, none of them were provided with ammo. I also remember he described being transported to hot spots in overloaded police cars with guys in gear barely fitting inside (and in some cases unable to even latch the car doors!) while driving helter skelter through the streets littered with all manner of debris and obstructions. Crazy.

[jsmith8918]

We lived in Orange County (south of the event), but we were actually camping in Santa Barbara County (north of the riots) when things touched off. Since we were camping, we initially didn’t even know what was going on in the area through which we would have to pass to get back home. I look back on that now and must admit that when we go camping to this day, I do take some supplies that might be necessary to protect my family so as not to be totally cut off while away from home.

[esy]

After the Streamlight hit the guy, it fell to the pavement very hard. I thought it was broken, but it still works well to this date.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Having been an Army Reservist before and during the first few years of my LE Career, I always thought of this ridiculous scenario, and I bet it happened to some people:

"Hey, your Reserve unit just called and they need you to report there for riot deployment. Lock up your duty pistol and BUG, turn in your shotgun, patrol rifle, and less lethals. Get out of that uniform and soft armor. Get over there and suit up in BDU's K-Pot, and grab an empty M-16."

Huh??

[chsk9]

I was still working part time and in school. About the 3rd day I was at my parents home north of L.A. when a car with 4 gangsters pulled in the driveway, and they were looking hard. Our Rottweiler came out barking and they slowly drove back out. I immediately drove home and brought back a Browning Hi-Power with a few mags and a 12 gauge and a box of buckshot. Thankfully they never came back.

[OLDLEORET]

Well, this maybe a little off topic. I retired from LAPD in 1991, so I wasn't there for the 1992 event. However I was in a National Guard MP company that deployed for the 1965 Watts Riots. We did have loaded M-! rifles for the event. Interesting times.

[SoCalDep]

Having been an Army Reservist before and during the first few years of my LE Career, I always thought of this ridiculous scenario, and I bet it happened to some people:

"Hey, your Reserve unit just called and they need you to report there for riot deployment. Lock up your duty pistol and BUG, turn in your shotgun, patrol rifle, and less lethals. Get out of that uniform and soft armor. Get over there and suit up in BDU's K-Pot, and grab an empty M-16."

Huh??

[vino68]

Netflix has a documentary about the riots. Last year there were some well made documentaries. I was in school full time and had a job after school. My schedule was classes from 7am until 11am, then work until 8pm. After work I would go work out with my buddies. Homework and labs were done in between work and the gym. I had no idea what had happened as I was working the warehouse stock that day. It wasn't until I met my buds at the gym. They told me what was happening. They closed the gym early, I went home to find my mom and dad safe. We were lucky, we did not live near the epicenter. But we worried that our home, neighborhood and business would be looted. We were armed.

I do remember well the national guard being deployed. And yeah, those guys had no ammo. They had what looked like Vietnam era ALICE gear that did not fit. Flack jackets which looked worn beyond use.

[G-Man WC]

There might he another one if the dodgers stink it up!
-g