The union representing Los Angeles police officers lashed out at Mayor Eric Garcetti Friday, objecting to his use of the word “killers” while discussing proposed law enforcement funding cuts with a group of black community leaders.
“We’ve sent an emergency request to Chief (Michel) Moore to send the LAPD Crisis Response Team to City Hall because Eric has apparently lost his damn mind,” the Los Angeles Police Protective League said in a statement condemning the mayor’s comment.
“Given that Eric has clearly stated in the past his appreciation and pleasure with the job the LAPD performs, the Board of Directors (of the union) finds his statement offensive and we are deeply worried about his capacity to lead our city.”
Union leaders called a midday news conference to discuss “the city’s prognosis under Garcetti’s tenure.”
On Thursday, Garcetti spoke to a group of black community leaders about the anti-police-brutality protests that have rocked the city over the past week, and about his proposal to slash as much as $150 million in funding from the Los Angeles Police Department in favor of financing social-service programs in black neighborhoods. The event at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church was also attended by other elected officials, LAPD Chief Michel Moore and Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
As Garcetti was discussing the proposed police funding cut, he said, “We must lead. I got calls from mayors around the country, some of them saying, `I’m so excited,’ the other ones saying, `What the hell did you do? Now I (have to) shift money.’ That’s exactly the point. It starts someplace, and we say we are going to be who we want to be or we’re going to continue being the killers that we are.”
A spokesman for the mayor’s office told the Los Angeles Times that Garcetti was not referring specifically to the LAPD, but to law enforcement in general across the country.
On Thursday night, Garcetti sent an email to city employees, in part praising the work of LAPD officers but saying the city needs to rethink it’s public safety operation as a whole in response to the national debate about police brutality and racial inequities that were spotlighted by the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“Our officers put themselves on the line each day to answer calls for help whenever and wherever they’re needed,” Garcetti wrote in the email. “I’ve met officers everywhere in our city and I’ve seen them do the job selflessly and honorably. I’ve witnessed how they know the neighborhoods, speak the languages and understand the experiences of the people they serve.
“We have made significant change, but we need to keep improving our approach to public safety until all of our citizens have confidence that law enforcement recognizes their humanity, dignity and right to live free.”
During the Thursday event, Moore, who did not address Garcetti’s statement, said it’s important for police officers to continue to reach out to members of the communities they patrol and listen to their grievances. MORE