Interview, Mike Woo, 1992-07-30

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Content I
CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILIGED
ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION
AND ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
To: Richard J. Stone, General Counsel and Staff Director
From: Karen Smith and Belinda Smith Walker
Date: July 30, 1992
Subject: Interview with Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Woo
ABSTRACT
Councilman Woo thinks that the LAPD preparation and response in
the were inadequate. Either Gates did not have a plan or he failed to
explain it his subordinates. The police response that did occur was
hampered by tensions within the department. Woo emphasized that
the structure of our city government diffuses responsibility to the
point where it is extremely difficult for officials to exercise
adequate oversight or for the public to hold them accountable. The
Mayor should have exercised more leadership in the crisis.
\ \35 RECORD NO.
COPY ~ OF f.o
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TO:
FROM:
DATE
RE:
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT WORK PRODUCT
MEMORANDUM
Richard J. Stone, General Counsel and Staff Director
S. Maya Iwanaga
June 30, 1992
June 24, 1992 Interview of Sergeant Gerald Goodrich
of the Southeast Division of the LAPD - - Short
Summary
On June 24, 1992, at approximately 12:40 p.m. at
the Southeast Division of the Los Angeles Police Department
("Southeast"), I attended an interview of Sergeant Gerald
("Gerry"), Goodrich taken by Paul Bower. Sergeant Goodrich
is the Southeast's Assistant Watch Commander for the P.M.
Watch. Sergeant Goodrich briefly discussed his duties and
responsibilities during the April 29, 1992 disturbances.
With regard to the Command Post, he thinks there was too
long of a delay before officers received assignments and
were deployed to other divisions and that officers sent from
other divisions were often unfamiliar with the areas they
were deployed to. He also complained about the equipment
including the radios (not enough and out-of-date), cars (not
enough) and weapons (no weapons for station security and no
non-lethal weapons available). Goodrich also suggests a
greater emphasis on training and planning, and thinks that
the LAPD needs more personnel. Finally, Goodrich thinks
there needs to be a better liaison between the LAPD and the
City Council and that the LAPD needs to have better
relations with the Mayor. Goodrich suggested that we talk
to Officer Jim West, a foot beat officer and Officer Pete
Panos, an officer instrumental in the projects.
Goodrich was a somewhat difficult witness to
interview and did not volunteer much information.
Accordingly, the information Goodrich provided may not be as
helpful as the information provided by other individuals
from Southeast. ·
MW025 OL.DOC
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RECORD NO.
COPY a
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OF {.p
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT WORK PRODUCT
Richard J. Stone, General Counsel and Staff Director
s. Maya Iwanaga
July 6, 1992
June 25, 1992 -- Interview of Sergeant Landry of the
Southeast Division of the LAPD - - Short Summary
On June 25, 1992, at 12:00 p.m. at the Southeast
Division Station of the Los Angeles Police Department
("Southeast"), Victor Wright and I interviewed Sergeant
Landry. Landry is currently the officer in charge of
southeast's Community Relations Office, which is also known
as the Crime Prevention Unit. Landry discussed at length
his responsibilities as officer in charge of Community
Relations, and the programs which his office oversees.
Landry was not able to shed too much light on the events
during the riots because he is not really active in
Southwest's normal "street" operations. As far as Landry's
suggestions and criticisms, he emphasized the need for
liaisons between the LAPD and the community, welfare reform,
and the officers to learn to deal with people and build
community relations.
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT WORK PRODUCT
Vanson offered some suggestions for the new Chief,
namely that he get to know the troops and the community and
that he approach community-based policing with an attitude
that is open to suggestions and ideas from the community.
Finally, Vanson thinks that a new riot is likely
and that the potential for violence in a new riot is much
worse now that the gangs are aligned. He believes that the
100,000 gang members in Los Angeles, if they remain united,
will act as one "killing machine" which the LAPD is not
currently prepared to handle.
MW027 Cl.DOC
2
TO:
FROM
DATE
RE:
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT WORK PRODUCT
Richard J. Stone, General Counsel and Staff Director
· s. Maya Iwanaga
July 6, 1992
June 25, 1992 Interview of Senior Field
Sergeant Vanson of the Southeast Division of the
LAPD - Short Summary
On June 25, 1992, at Southeast Division of the Los
Angeles Police Department ("Southeast"), Victor Wright and I
interviewed Senior Field Sergeant Peter Vanson. Vanson has
been with the LAPD for fourteen years and considers himself
a "street cop" because he has never gone to an
administrative "desk" job, even though that means that he
may not be promoted above his current rank. Vanson comes
from a unique background because he served for five years as
a London policeman. Vanson's experience with the community
based London police has given him a unique perspective of
the LAPD and its effort to move toward community-based
policing.
Vanson is highly critical of the LAPD and offered
some unique suggestions for improvemnt based upon his
experience as a London policeman. Vanson feels the LAPD is
the worst prepared police department he has ever encountered
and that the LAPD has poor leadership training. He found
fault with the Command Post strategy, criticized the lack of
equipment, was very cynical regarding the leadership in the
LAPD, and cited a complete breakdown in communications
within the chain of command as creating low morale in the
department. He thinks the LAPD needs to encourage officers
to stay on the streets and gain experience, because the
experience level among officers is very low and is creating
problems on the streets.
RECORD NO. t J lf 1
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY-CLIENT WORK PRODUCT
Vanson offered some suggestions for the new Chief,
namely that he get to know the troops and the community and
that he approach community-based policing with an attitude
that is open to suggestions and ideas from the community.
Finally, Vanson thinks that a new riot is likely
and that the potential for violence in a new riot is much
worse now that the gangs are aligned. He believes that the
100,000 gang members in Los Angeles, if they remain united,
will act as one "killing machine" which the LAPD is not
currently prepared to handle.
MW027 01.DOC
2
f I
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL ADVISOR
TO THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
CITY OF LOS ANGELES
Privileged And Confidential
Attorney Work Product
Richard J. Stone
General Counsel and Staff Director
Victor L. Wright
Paul G. Bower
July 8, 1992
Interview of Patrol Captain
John Trundle -- summary
This will summarize the attached memorandum
concerning an interview with Captain John Trundle, Patrol
Commander at the Southeast Division. The interview was
conducted on June 18, 1992, by Paul G. Bower and Victor L.
Wright.
Captain Trundle is a long-time veteran of the
Police Department and for approximately the last year has
been Patrol Captain at Southeast. Captain Trundle was one
of the captains attending a command development school in
Ventura County at the time the King Verdict was rendered;
after hearing the verdict announced, he returned to
Southeast late Qn April 29, 1992. At the time he returned,
the situation in Southeast was chaotic with reports of many
incidents in the area. There were no major incidents,
however, at the projects located in the area where violence
was expected. After the Department was mobilized and went
to an A/B shift, Southeast personnel were sent to the
command post.
RECORD NO. I I~
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Captain Trundle was assigned to the command post
where he returned to work the next serving as communication
officer. He, along with a number of other officers, was
critical of operations at the command post. Noted there was
a clear lack of authority which created confusion. He also
said there was inadequate communications equipment at the
command post and that they had trouble with both the
telephones and radios. Captain Trundle believes that a
decentralized approach to control the disorder would have
been more effective with local commanders left in control
rather than utilizing the command post approach. Captain
Trundle believes that the command post could best serve as a
facilitator to obtain more resources for the police.
As to planning, Captain Trundle ______ (said)
there was a standing plan for the area, but no specific plan
in anticipation of disorder after the King verdict.
Southeast had developed a plan for control of gunfire on New
Year's Eve, and that plan, which utilizes a sector approach,
was utilized during the disorder. Captain Trundle also
noted that there was some training of officers in
anticipation of the King verdict, primarily squad tactics.
Captain Trundle believes that because of the
numbers of incidents of shootings, looting, and burning, and
the widespread nature of these incidents, that the disorder
could not have been controlled even with the best of plans.
There was simply too much trouble and too few officers.
When asked how many officers would be enough, Trundle
replied that the City first needs to determine what sort of
Police Department it wants. For example, if the Department
is to respond to every type of incident within a short
amount of time, then more officers and number of resources
would be needed. Captain Trundle also noted that the
problems of civil disorders will not be solved until the
underlying problems are addressed. He noted particularly
the immense amount of hostility toward the LAPD from the
housing projects even though the Department is the only in
the City agency that has anything to do with the projects.
CL921900.026
2
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
Richard J. Stone, General Counsel and Staff Director
Paul G. Bower ands. Maya Iwanaga
July 21, 1992
June 24, 1992 Interview of Sgt. Chris Bonilla
of the Southeast Division, LAPD -- Short Summary
===========================================================
On June 24, 1992, at appoximately 11:00 a.m. at
Southeast Division headquarters, Paul Bower and Maya Iwanaga
interviewed Sgt. Chris Bonilla. Bonilla has been with the
LAPD since March 1981, and was promoted to sergeant in
January 1989. He has been at Southeast for two years.
Bonilla is currently head of a special enforcement group of
eight officers • . The group works closely with Southeast
detectives to analyze crime statistics and determine crime
trends. Bonilla's group operates under the general
direction of Capt. John Trundle.
Regarding pre-verdict planning, Bonilla told us
about a meeting Lt. Manchester organized to exchange
ideas/develop a plan for responding to expected disorders
after the verdict. Bonilla, a few other Southeast
sergeants, and Metro representatives attended. The plan
that was developed was reduced to writing. With regard to
events during the riots, Bonilla described his involvement
in what was probably Southeast's first major incident during
the disturbances, at Manchester and Vernon.
Bonilla and his group were sent to the Command
Post ("CP") during the disturbances. Bonilla criticized the
CP structure, and said that command should stay divisional
during massive disturbances. He stated that the procedure
for sending officers to the CP should be modified so that
the maximum number of officers necessary are kept at the
division, and only a true surplus is sent to the CP. He
also said that there needs to be a clear chain of command
within the CP so that officers receive clear directives from
only one source. Bonilla also criticized provisions for
handling arrestees, particularly at central locations.
Finally, Bonilla thought that additional equipment such as
radios, vehicles, and personal equipment e.g. riot shields,
would have been helpful for crowd control.
RECORD NO. ( I $0
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SUMMARY ABSTRACT
Interviewees: Safety Police Chief Robert Harris, Lieutenant
Clifford Green, Officer Milton Triggs and Officer George
West
Major Issues: The Los Angeles County Safety Police
Department is a county law enforcement agency which primary
goal is to patrol and ensure tranquility at county
facilities and on county property. The Safety Police have
full "police" powers to carry weapons and to make arrests,
although they concentrate more on providing protective
services to the courts and DPSS buildings. The Department
is comprised of four divisions, and the officers with whom I
spoke all worked for the Internal Services Division, which
provides support to county buildings.
None of the officers with whom I spoke anticipated
complete acquittals, although many feared that only Powell
and/or Coons would be convicted once venue in the King
matter was changed to Simi Valley. Although they heard from
the Sheriff's Department that gangs "might" be active in
response to the King verdicts, they had no special
intelligence which would have led them to anticipate
disturbances of the type actually experienced in the city.
Harris noted, however, that if LAPD had been planning and
cooperating well with the Safety Police, it probably could
have used the Safety Police's extensive "street" contacts to
obtain more accurate intelligence in this regard.
The officers were very critical of the LAPD's
performance during the disturbances for several reasons.
First, the LAPD exhibited the attitude that it didn't need
any other county agency in planning for and handling the
disturbances--an attitude which Harris and his officers felt
was simply incorrect. The officers also noted that the LAPD
did not respond quickly and forcefully to incidents such as
the Reginald Denny beating, and that if a SWAT team had
descended on Florence and Normandie immediately, the
violence probably would have ceased almost immediately.
Additionally, Harris noted that when the Safety Police tried
to protect county buildings and requested assistance from
the LAPD in doing so, the LAPD simply did not respond.
Harris and his officers suggested that there must
be a fundamental change in the LAPD management and attitude
if the LAPD is to provide real service to the community.
Specifically, the Department must cooperate with other law
enforcement agencies and must abandon its attitude that the
LAPD is all-powerful and knowing.
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
27
I
.,
In order to effectively change the LAPD and to
improve its responsiveness, Harris and his officers
suggested that 1) the LAPD implement "community based"
policing, whereby officers on foot and otherwise patrol
neighborhoods in which they live and become aware of the
problems peculiar to their respective neighborhoods; 2) the
LAPD revamp its training and disciplinary programs,
providing officers with cultural awareness training and
providing citizens with an effective mechanism for filing
complaints against LAPD __members; 3) the LAPD be forced to
work with the county agencies to develop a comprehensive
plan to deal with citywide emergencies; and 4) that the LAPD
generally recognize that its first responsibility is to the
community, rather than to its officers.
Additionally, Harris and his officers acknowledged
that the community must deal with the underlying economic
and sociological problems to avoid a repeat of the
disturbances. Lt. Green suggested that the community
implement more educational/job training programs so that
young people concentrate their efforts on becoming
contributing members of society rather than on becoming gang
members.
Neither Harris nor his officers want to testify at
the public hearings, although Harris, in particular, would
be an excellent candidate. Harris also suggested that we
speak with Bill Stewart, Director of the Internal Services
Divis i on of the Safety Police Department, as Stewart was
second-in-command of the National Guard during the
disturbances.
CL922050.092
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
28
SUMMARY ABSTRACT
Interview with Antonio Rodriguez
Antonio Rodriguez is an East L.A. attorney with experience in
police abuse and excessive force litigation. He has been active in
protests against police abuse against Latinos for nearly 30 years.
Highlights of Interview:
Rodriguez believes that police-community relations are the
worst they have ever been. Tensions have ·been escalating over the
last year bec~use of police violence and racism and a growing
community rage over economic conditions and repression. The
minority neighborhoods have been, and remain, a powderkeg.
The police are the praetorian guard for the property of the
privileged. Chief Williams must "remold the monstor" or violence
will erupt again. If it does, the spark that sets off the violence
will probably be something symbolic involving the police. The
police represent physical, political and economic repression in the
minority community,
Privileged & Confidential -- Attorney Work Product
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---- ---- ------ ----- - --- ---------------------.
To:
From:
SHARENOW & CORBIN
LAWYERS
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
MEMORANDUM
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
Office of Special Advisor,
Richard J. Stone
Leonard Sharenow
Julie Huffman
Date:
Re:
July 14, 1992
Interview of California
Highway Patrol
Investigator, ·Jim Abele
File: WEBSTER STIJDY/lnteragency Group
Summary of Interview
On July 13, 1992, at about 12:30 p.m., Leonard Sharenow and Julie Huffman
interviewed CHP Investigator Jim Abele at Ms. Huffman's law offices. The purpose of
this interview was to determine the extent of intelligence information obtained by the
CHP and transmitted to other law enforcement agencies with regard to possible civil
disturbances in the event of "adverse" verdicts in the Rodney King trial.
C:\DO°'WEBSTER\MEM0.7 -1-
RECORD NO. \ \55
COPY a OF (p
......._____ ____________ _ _ _ _ _ ____ - -
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
MEMORANDUM
SUSAN SPIVAK, ESQ.
KEN HEITZ, ESQ.
LAURIE L. LEVENSON
JULY 16, 1992
RE: LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ("LAX")
POLICE BUREAU
SUMMARY
on July 15, 1992, at 9:45 a.m., at the Los Angeles
International Airport Police Department, I interviewed Chief of
Police Gilbert A. Sandoval. The following is a summary of my
recollection of this meeting, including my questions and
comments, together with my mental impressions, conclusions and
opinions, based upon the meeting.
LAX has its own 222 officer police force. The airport
police work jointly with the LAPD in preventing and apprehending
crime at the airport. During the civii unrest, the airport
police maintained the security of the airport. Although they
were not able to provide assistance to other agencies, the
airport police were able to prevent any disturbances at the
airport.
RECORD NO.
COPY ~ OF
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CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED
ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION
AND ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
To: Richard J. Stone, General Counsel and Staff Director
From: Belinda Smith Walker
Date: July 26, 1992
Subject: Interview on July 14, 1992, with staff of Central
American Refugee Center (CARECEN): Madeline Janis,
Esq., Executive Director; Edward J. Flynn, Legal
Director; Kathie Mahn, Legal Services Coordinator;
Jan Gustafson, Legal Assistant; and Carlos Vaquerano,
Community Relations and Communications Director
ABSTRACT
Madeline Janis and the CARECEN staff stated that during the civil
disorder, the LAPD in conjunction with the INS illegally arrested
and detained hundreds of immigrants in the Pico Union area. The
minimal LAPD presence during the first day and a half of the civil
unrest resulted in unnecessary destruction of property in the
area, as well.
RECORD NO. \ \61
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'CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED
ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION
AND ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
TO: Richard J. Stone, General Counsel and Staff Director
From: Belinda Smith Walker and Lynne Hobbes
Date: July 21, 1992
Subject: Interview with William Mccarley, Chief Legislative
Analyst for the City of Los Angeles, and Ron Deaton,
Assistant Legislative Analyst
ABSTRACT
Mr. McCarley and Mr. Deaton stated that the LAPD has received priority
in the city's budget for the past 18 years. Antipathy of the Mayor for
the Chief did not impact allocations to the LAPD, although Bradley's
general conservatism probably did. Mccarley and Deaton emphasized
that the issue is one of judgement not equipment; not what resources
were available, but how the LAPD managed the ones that were.
RECORD NO. \ \Lp'7
COPY d OF ltJ
SENT BY:xerox Te lecopier 7020 : 7-30-92 :11:16AM
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•
July .it, 1tta
Mr. Jan Lavrenc• Hand1lik
Oftice ot th• Spacial Adviaor
to the aoard ot Police Cozmaiasionen
c1·ty of Lo• • Anc;•l••
Suit• 3421
e01 s. riwueroa 1treet
LO• An9eles, calitornia 90017
:U: IPZC:%Al, ADVISOR TO TRI BOARD OP POLICE
CONKIISIONZRS, LOS AMOZLIS, CAL?J'OIIKll
RIQUl8T roa INFOMA'l'ION AND IHTBRVDWI
Dear Mr. Hand1liks
Reference 1• made to your letter, dated July 1, 1,,2,
addr••••d t.o Mr•. Lucy Ann Hoover· , supervi ory Special A9ent
(SSA)., Legal coun••l Diviaion (LCD), JPederal aureau of
Investi9a~ion (FBI), in which you requeeted. permi••ion to
intervi•w tvelv• named PII employees. You baaed your inter•st in
th••• twelve nued FBI employ••• on th• "•ic;niriean~ role• t.hey
each played in the FBI re ponaa to the Lo• Anqal•• civil
disturbance of April/Jl•Y 1tta.
FBI Headquart•r• ha• granted authorization tor
repre entatives of tbe Webster study to ~ontact th• below li•ted
individuals for interviava revarding their knowled9e of th• Los
An9alaa Police Department r .. ponae to the April/May 1992 civil
diaturi,anc•:
LAI Apq9111 •£•14 Qf(ig•
1. Special A;ent in Chu,. ~rlie J. »anon•
a. A••i•tant lpaoial A41ent in Char;• Gary A. Li otto
3. Aa•istant Special A;ent in Charge Tboaa• R. Parker
4. Assiatant Special Aqent in Ch•Z"CJ• ldward J. curran
5, A••i•tant Special A9ent in Char9e J•rr-i Dal• Thornton
&. suparvi1oey Special A9ent Corey Bart
~ SENT BY:xerox Te lecopier 7020 : 7-30-92 :11:16AM
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Mr. Jan Lawnnoe Band lik
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A••i•tant O rector Willia• 1. Baup, ~r.
ga1111 Fi•14 Qffi,
Spec1•1 Agent n Charc,e Oliver•• Revell
,i ,.,e
1
1,14 Qffir•
spec: al A;entn Cha%"9• aichard D. Sehwein
N9w Yorg 71110 ort191
Deputy Aasistant • Director In Cbarte William A. Gavin
ibP1ni1 ru14 Q(ttse
Special Agentn CbarcJ• Ja11e1 r. Ahearn
h•biugtonwlttropgtitan Fi•14 Q(tig•
Assistant Spec al Ac;•nt in Ch&%'9e Richard M. Rogers
All the above named individual• have been in•tncted
that the cope of the authori1ation for the interview• 1 limited
to their knowledge of the t.APD reapon e to the civil di turbane•
that followed the April at, 1992 vardict in th• Rodney Kin;
trial. Additionally, 1:>ecau•• ju tification for intonation
unrelated to t.lPD'• response to the oivil di•turbanoe ha• not
b4aen established, no auch di1closure1 have been approved.
Schedulin9 ot the intervi.,,. will be coordinated
throuqh special A;ant (SA) ~o•• s. Ginter, Lo• Angel•• rield
Ottice. You may cont.ct SA cinter at tel-i,hon• nw=er (310) 445-
3531.
•• hope that we have been ot ervice to yc,ur •tUdy.
Sincerely, ·
L. C.. -~ --• 9b ~
-....JQ--i
Joaeph a. Davis
Aaaistant Director~ Lagal counsel
%,~ a.~
'b"""°~ Au:.~rJ ~~
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