Los Angeles Versus the LAPD

Joel Anderson: “In this Frontline interview, Daryl Gates reflects on the history of the LAPD and the crisis he faced in 1991. Gates says that he thinks the tape of King’s beating was taken out of context and that the beating didn’t stem from racism. He also says that he was ‘surprised’ by the riots after the LAPD officers who beat King were acquitted.”

JA: “City councilman Michael Woo was the first elected city official to call for Gates’ resignation. This came after a fiery exchange with the chief during a city council hearing. Woo spoke with us about his thinking at the time and the political implications of the decision. This L.A. Times article from the time got into some of it as well, including Woo’s mayoral ambitions.”

JA: “The New York Times obituary after Gates’ death in 2010 lays out his legacy, including what he did after resigning as police chief. It also provides an interesting backstory into his first encounter with the LAPD: he punched an officer who was writing him a parking ticket.”

JA: “On the 25th anniversary of the riots, Code Switch did an episode about what changed—and what didn’t—after Gates resigned.”

JA: “Tom Bradley, L.A.’s first Black mayor, operated behind the scenes to try to push Gates out after King’s beating. This Washington Post article from 1981 foreshadows how Bradley would react to the crisis he faced in 1991.”

JA: “Four months after King’s beating, an independent commission headed by attorney Warren Christopher released the findings of its ‘full and fair examination of the structure and operation of the LAPD.’ The full report details a number of abuses, including a ‘significant number’ of officers who use excessive force against civilians. It also unanimously called for Gates’ resignation.”

JA: “Gates had once contended that Black people were more likely to die from chokeholds than ‘normal people’ because their necks had different anatomy. In this interview, Dr. Richard Allen Williams recalled Gates asking him in 1982 if the anatomy of Black and white people’s necks were different; Gates floated his theory about chokeholds, and Williams rejected it.”

JA: “Former LAPD chief William Parker was Gates’ mentor and had a lasting influence on the department. Parker did his part to maintain the racial hierarchy of Los Angeles. He was alleged to find police officer candidates at Ku Klux Klan rallies, and only begrudgingly hired Black and Mexican American officers. This study discusses the continued issue of white supremacist infiltration of law enforcement.”

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Plus, catch up on Anderson’s collection of essential reading for Episode 1: The Tape and Episode 2: No Justice.