Oakwood Confronts Police Abuse


By Peggy Lee Kennedy

Spurred by a shocking incident of police abuse, around 100 Venice Oakwood community residents met, April 5, with officers of the Pacific Division of the Los Angeles Police Department at the Oakwood Recreation Center.


On March 27, a longtime Oakwood youth, Donavon Moore, was arrested and beaten by LAPD officers. Witnesses on Lincoln Blvd. stated that they counted 21 “Black and White” cars speeding toward Oakwood. Another witness inside Oakwood said there were 26 police cars on the scene. One observer suspected that a riot or an uprising must be taking place.

Family members of Moore claim unnecessary use of police force during his arrest. Pictures that were taken by neighborhood kids at the time of the arrest show Moore's bruised and swollen face as he was being held upright by two police officers.

At the meeting, Oakwood residents spoke one after another, describing unacceptable police behavior in their community. Grandmothers, mothers, aunties, sisters, and cousins spoke about how their family members had been ill-treated by law enforcement. One youth claimed that a Pacific Division Police Officer called their mother a “bitch.” All agreed that most of the officers show little respect to those they are supposed to “protect and serve.” The meeting was chaired by life-long Oakwood resident and Neighborhood Council Board member, Laddie Williams. It was video taped by Reverend Shearwood Fleming.

Captain Graves, Captain Hillman, Lieutenant Hones, and other Pacific Division LAPD officers listened impassively to the complaints. Also present and taking notes was James Williams from the U.S. Department of Justice. During the complaints, the names of the same officers repeatedly came up for allegedly mistreating residents. Much of the mistreatment was said to be aimed at Oakwood youth.

When the community comments ended, Captain Graves, Captain Hillman and Lieutenant Hones spoke to the crowd. Many of those in attendance appeared dissatisfied with the officers’ responses. The officers stated that the police presence in Oakwood had been intensified in recent months. They cited a drop in crime in the area. However, residents responded that officers were not distinguishing between law-abiding residents and drug dealers. Several linked the police harassment to the gentrification.

One resident said the police were coming down on African-americans because "they weren't selling their houses fast enough." The LAPD has stationed a mobile police station in front of the park, at 7th Street and California Avenue. Graves said it would stay in spite of demands that it be removed.

Graves agreed to take names and complaints in writing. In addition, he invited Venice 2000 (a Venice-based gang intervention organization) to come to a Pacific Division Roll Call. A follow-up community meeting was set for the following month.

Once the meeting adjourned, people stayed and talked with the police officers and other community members. Some people stayed to watch that evening's police activity in front of the recreation center. There was the mobile police station, two parked police cars (one kept running), and a car that was cruising up and down the one block in front of the recreation center.

It was a peaceful spring night, except for one seemingly drunk, light-skinned man who did show up to make a fuss. In spite of there force in numbers, the police did not stop him from chasing the kids who were there “hanging out” or from almost getting hit by multiple cars. The police did, however, follow a young woman from in front of the basketball court to her car. There manner could have been considered intimidating.
Even though there were plenty of armed police officers on that one block, two armed Falcon Security guards also showed up.

Since the passing of the Patriot Act, lots of people in less diverse communities have been worried about the erosion of our civil liberties and how we might be moving into some kind of a police state. But right now, many of our neighbors in Oakwood merely have to step outside their front doors to be smack in the middle of it.

Posted: Sat - May 1, 2004 at 04:27 PM          

©