http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-occupy-lapd-20111127,0,2222401.storyThe Police Department under Chief Charlie Beck, well aware of a history of clashes with civilians, has put on a charm offensive toward protesters. Monday's camp shutdown may be a defining moment(snip)
The LAPD has a checkered record in dealing with protests. Clashes between officers and demonstrators at the 2000 Democratic National Convention brought a string of lawsuits and a series of reforms in how the department handles crowd control.
The city has paid out more than $12 million in civil settlements since officers used batons and fired foam bullets to disperse the crowd at a MacArthur Park rally for immigrant rights on May Day 2007. The incident, caught on video and broadcast around the world, was a black eye for the department and prompted another reform campaign.
Beck was appointed chief two years ago with the enthusiastic recommendations of civil rights groups and community activists, who said he brought a new way of thinking about defusing community tensions. Beck had worked with these groups in the aftermath of the Rampart corruption scandal a decade ago, supporting a series of reforms.
Occupy Los Angeles Plans To Stay At City Hall, Ignore City Deadline To Vacatehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/26/occupy-los-angeles-says-it-will-stay_n_1114595.html#2557_occupy-la-remains-defiantDespite a fast-approaching deadline set by the mayor and police chief, very few of the anti-Wall Street protesters from Occupy Los Angeles had begun breaking down their tents Saturday on the City Hall lawn – and most said they didn't intend to.