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Los Angeles Webster Commission records, 1931-1992
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Operations central bureau, civil unrest report, 1992-04-29/1992-05-01
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Operations central bureau, civil unrest report, 1992-04-29/1992-05-01
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Content
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GEOGRAPHICAL BUREAU
PREPAREDNESS & CHRQ~OLO
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018552
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LAPD 15.02.0 (4-73)
May 8, 1992
1.4
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
~ TRADEPARTMENTAL CORRES.-ENCE
OIC, Inspection and C o, t rol
Operations-Central Bureau
OCB's MAJOR INCIDENTS RELATIVE TO THE CIVIL UNREST
Attached are Operations-Central Bureau's description of major incidents
relative to the civil unrest. The incidents were recorded on
April 29, April 30 and May 1, 1992. Also included are Operations
Central Bureau's command post journals for the same days.
----,. " '- '- t,._,,.__,,.~ 1<. ,~
MAURICE iJ.... MOORE, Commander
Assistant Commanding Officer
Operations-Central Bureau
Attachments
018553
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May 8, 1992
4.1
-
INTRADEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
TO: Commanding Officer, Operations-Central Bureau
FROM: Commanding Officer, Central Area
SUBJECT: 1992 RIOT CIVIL UNREST REPORT
~ACKGROUND
On April 29, 1992, following the announcement of the verdict in
the trial of four Los Angeles Police officers, a condition of
civil unrest erupted into protests, rioting and looting activity
throughout the Southland resulting in injury, death, and damage to
numerous public and private buildings over the days that followed.
CENTRAL_AREA CONTINGENCY PLAN
On April 29, 1992, at 0830 hours, a Central Area meeting was held.
Captain Conner, all lieutenants, sergeants, detective III's and
senior lead officers attended the meeting. A significant issue
addressed during the meeting was the possibility of protests
and/or violent confrontations should the verdicts in the Rodney
King police beating trial be announced that day.
It was initially believed that Central Area would not be or would
be only minimally effected by the verdict. However, should there
be any indication of protest activity, Central Area would fall
back on its existing plans for protests which frequently occurs in
Central Area.
When faced with a potential protest situation, Central Area
personnel attempt to hypothesize variable protest scenarios and
project those actions which would be required to neutralize the
protest activity. Such hypothetical action is then evaluated
based on the impact of such action on the objective. Should a
protest situation occur, Area personnel would monitor the
situation to ascertain escalation or de-escalation of the
protest, as well as its potential for violence. This has
traditionally been performed by the Area Vice Unit (in plain
clothes) and uniformed roving units. Based on the information
gained, an assessment is made, and a general strategy to
neutralize the disturbance is developed.
018554
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"-
- -
C/0, Operations-Central Bureau
Page 2
4.1
The protecti on of Parker Center, the Civic Center Area, and the
business district has always been deemed a primary objective in
Central Area ' s contingency plan. If that objective would require
a significant supplementation of Central Area personnel a tactica l
alert would be called a d concluding watches held over to meet
such personnel requirements as needed.
Attachment
Central Area patrol and detectives collectively have
a significant amount of experience in dealing with
major unusual occurrences. Central detectives have
extensive experience in the handling of a "Field
Jail Unit" and undergoes periodic roll play training
in s uch. Central patrol routinely handles mass
demonstrations and undergoes periodic roll call
training in squad f ormations and demonstration
control.
018555
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-
1992 RIOT CIVIL UNREST REPORT
The following is a report of major events occurring in Central Area
April 29, 30, and May 1, 1992, pertaining to the civil unrest.
Date/Time: April 29, 1992, 1527 Hours
Parker Center - Front Lobby
Jail Division Watch Commander, called for one
sergeant and two units to r einforce Parker Center
security due to the Press over-running the lobby.
Chief Gates planned a press conference at 1700
hours at the auditorium. Lieutenant Fox called
Metropolitan Division to request security for the
press conference.
De_plo__y_ment P l an: Metropolitan Division was called to assist.
Dat~LTime:
_Location:
Ac ti y_iJ~.Y:
Central Area Day Watch personnel were released at
the direction of Operations-Central Bureau.
PM Watch and Mid-Day Watch officers were deployed
at Parker Center:
40 Officers
7 Sergeants
April 29, 1992, 1745 Hours
Parker Center
A Command Post was set up on San Pedro Street
behind Parker Center in the Mobile Substation and
was manned by one lieutenant and one sergeant.
Both the front and back of Parker Center were
secured by officers.
Q~oyrnent Plan: A skirmish line was set up in front of Parker
Center.
Date/Time:
Location:
No Military deployment
April 29, 1992, 1900 Hours
Parker Center
A help call was issued from Parker Center. The
front of Parker Center was stormed by protesters.
Protesters smashed the lobby windows of Parker
Center and burned the guard shack in the north
parking lot.
018556
- -
1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 2
4.1
Protesters were initially boisterous and noisy.
Suddenly the protesters scattered to different
locations. (City Hall Broadway, New Otani Hotel).
When other locations were attacked by pro t esters,
officers were dispatched in units of three to
effect arrests. This strategy lead to 138 arrest.
There were no records of injuries to citizens or
, tourist in the area.
Deployment Plan: Mid-Day Watch held over, PM Watch, Central Traffic
Division and Metropolitan were called to assist.
Military:
Date/Time:
Location:
Initially eight officers, one sergeant and a
captain were deployed in front of Parker Center to
secure the front lobby. The front doors to Parker
Center were barred and officers took position in
the front lobby.
100 officers were deployed:
40 Metropolitan Units
40 Central Area Officers
20 Central Traffic Division Officers
7 Sergeants
1 Lieutenant
1 Captain
No Military deployment.
April 29, 1992, 2107 Hours
City Hall outh
Activity: Protesters broke into City Hall South, smashed
windows and ransacked the location, wrote graffiti
on walls and set a fire on the first floor .
Deployment Plan: One Sergeant and one squad of uniformed officers
were deployed to secure the location.
~ili~ary: No Military deployment.
018557
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- -
1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 3
4.1
Date/Time:
Locat:i,_Q_:n:
April 29, 1992, 2149 Hours
Criminal Courts Building
210 West Temple Street
Federal Building
300 N. Los Angeles Street
Activity: Fires were reported at both locations.
Deployment Plan: Federal officers were deployed to the Federal
Building and the State Police were deployed to the
Criminal Courts Building .
pate/Time:
Location:
Activity:
No LAPD officers were sent to the Criminal Courts
Building. The location was secured by .the
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, a sergeant and
one squad was sent to the Federal Building.
No Military deployment.
April 29, 1992 , 2200 Hours
City Hall Main Street
City Hall East
Los Angeles Mall
Protesters smashed windows, wrote graffiti on
walls, ransacked locations and set fires.
Deployment Plan: A sergeant and one squad of uniformed officers
were deployed to each location.
Military:
Approximately 100 officers were deployed directly
from Parker Center to the above locations.
No Military deployment.
018558
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-
1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 4
4.1
Date/Time: April 29, 1992, 2205 Hours
-
Locations: The following locations were vandalized by rioters
moving southbound Broadway from First Street:
Times Building - 1st and Broadway
State Office, 107 S. Broadway
Newsstand, 1st and Broadway
Trio ' s Grill, 200 S. Broadway
Los Angeles Law, 205, 207 S. Broadway
Marty ' s Sandwiches, 213 S. Broadway
Radio Shack, 213 S. Broadway
Del Taco, 235 S. Broadway
Christy's Donuts, 235 S. Broadway
El Gallo Giro, 239 S. Broadway
Bradbury Building, 3rd and Broadway
McDonald ' s, 330 S. Broadway
Central Travel Service, 4th & Broadway
Newsstand, 429 S. Broadway
Checks Cashed, 440 S. Broadway
J.J. Newberry Co., 445 S. Broadway
Thrifty, 501 S. Broadway
Taco Bell, 510 S. Broadway
Barry ' s Jewelry, 543 S. Broadway
Los Angeles Diamond, 601 S. Broadway
Carl's Junior, 620 S. Broadway
Ace Snack Shop, 621 S. Broadway
Royale Jewlers, Broadway
Leed's Shoes, 633 S. Broadway
Clifton ' s Cafeteria, 646 S. Broadway
Golden Girl Fashion, 659 S. Broadway
Hudson ' s Jeweler ' s, 717 S. Broadway
Marinello Beauty School, 728 Broadway
Shoe Rax, 806 S. Broadway ·
Pacific Shoe, 801 S. Broadway
ANJAC Fashions, 808 S. Broadway
Eastman Building, 849 S. Broadway
City Hall - South/East
City Hall - Main Street
Olympic Camera, Olympic and Figueroa
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
wind ow smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
front door smash
wi ndow smash
overturned/burned
window smash
window smash, f i re
window smash, fire
window smash
window smash
extensive damage
extensive damage
extensive damage
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
window smash
extensive damage
window smash, fire
window smash, fire
window smash
Activity: Looting, vandalism and fires were set along
Broadway by rioters.
Deployment Plan: Five squads were sent out to arrest and curtail
activity on Broadway.
Military: No Military deployment.
018559
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-
1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 5
4.1
-
April 29, 199 ~. 2200 Hours
Act_ivi ty: Field Jail Unit activated at Parker Center Jail
Division.
Deployment Plan: Central Area Detectives were assigned to Field
Jail Unit:
A Watch: 1 Detective I II
11 Detectives
B Watch: 1 Lieutenant
2 Detective III's
16 Detectives
Date/Tim~: April 29, 1992, 2300 to 0600 Hours
Activity: Field Jail processed 134 arrestees for various
violations.
Date/~im~ : April 30, 1992, early morning hours.
Activity: Sporadic looting and structure fires along
Broadway. This activity was suppressed by teams
of Central officers making a r r est and enforcing
the City wide curfew law.
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 0844 Hours
D~ployment Plan: One unit was assigned to advise Pawn Brokers to
secure weapons.
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 0915 Hours
Deployment Plan: One u n ' t assigned to assist security at City
Hall, Council Meeting.
018560
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1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 6
4.1
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 1300 Hours
Location: Washington Boulevard and Broad · y
Activity: Received information from narcotic scouts,
looting at location.
Deploym~nt Plan: Ten units were deployed to location .
Militar_y: No Military deployed.
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 1415 Hours
Location: Main Street and Washington Boulevard
Activity: Major fire and looting, approximately 200
looters .
De_ployment Plan: 20 officers, 14 detectives and 2 lieutenants
deployed.
MiJ,j.t_ ar_y: No Military deployed.
pat_~flime: Apri 1 30, 1992, 1453 Hours
Location: Washington at Broadway and M ain Street
Activity: Major fires and looting. Air unit requested to
location.
eployment Plan: 20 officers deployed to location by bus.
Military: No Military deployed.
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 1800 Hours
Location: Central Area
Activity: 54 arrests were processed by the Central Area
Field Jail Unit.
Deployment Plan: Central Area Detectives Field Jail.
Military No Military deployed.
018561
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1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 7
4 . 1
-
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 1925 Hours.
~o~ ation: 700 S. Broadway
Activity: Structure fires and looting.
Deployment: One sergeant and 4 officers provided security
for Fire Department personnel at scene.
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 1945 Hours
Location: 5th Street and Spring/5th Street and Broadway
Activity: Structure fires and looting.
Deployment Plan: One squad deployed.
Military: No Military deployed.
Date/Time: April 30, 1992, 2215 Hours
Location: 5th Street and Hill Street
Activity: Structure fire and looting.
Deployment Plan: One sergeant, 4 officers provided security
support for the Fire Department personnel .
Military: No Military deployed.
Date/Time: April 30, 1800 through May 1, 1992, 0600 Hours
Location: Central Area
Activity: 253 arrests were made.
Deployment Plan: Central Area Detectives deployed.
Military: No Military deployed.
018562
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- -
1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 8
4.1
Date/Time:
Location:
May 1, 1992, 0115 to 0152 Hours
1337 South Hill Street
Structure fire.
Deployment Plan: One sergeant, 4 officers provided security for
Fire Department personnel.
Date/Time: May 1, 1992, 0115 to 0330 Hours
Locati9n: 1337 South Hill Street
Activity: Structure fire.
D~p_ loyment P l~Jl: One sergeant, 4 officers provided security for
Fire Department personnel.
Military: No ~ilitary deployed.
Date/Time: May 1, 1992, 0200 Hours
~oGati_Q_n: 8th Street and Broadway
Activity: Newsstand on fire.
p _e_ployment Plan: Central Area Detectives
Military: No Military deployed.
Date/Time: May 1, 1992, 0215 Hours
Location: 1950 South Main Street
Activity: Structure fire.
Deployment Plan: One sergeant, 4 officers provided security for
Fire Department personnel.
Military: No Military deployed.
018563
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1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 9
4.1
Dat~Time: May 1, 1992, 1030 Hours
Hall of Justice
County Court House
Hall of Records
-
Power Plant on Hill Street
Criminal Courts Building
\ Federal Court Building
City Hall
Activity: Deployment of National Guard
Deployment Plan: National Guard deployed to above locations due
to high security area.
Military: 77 Military personnel deployed.
Date/Time: May 1, 1992, 1730 Hours
Location: Central Area
Acti vity: Deployment of National Guard
~~lq_yment Plan: National Guard deployed in Central Area.
Military: 300 Military personnel deployed.
Date/Time: May 1, 1992, 1800 Hours
Location: Central Area
Activity: 51 arrests.
Deployment Plan: One sergeant, 4 officers provided security for
Fire Department personnel.
Military: No Military deployed.
0.18564 ·
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1992 Riot Civil Unrest Report
Page 10
4.1
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
-
During the period of April 30 through May 1, 1992, the Field Jail
was located at Parker Center and was manned by Central Area
Detectives who processed 613 male and 116 female arrestees.
During this time period, Central Area personnel recovered and
booked 321 items of property which had been looted from Downtown
businesses. These items ranged from crock pots to cameras, tennis
shoes to televisions and end tables to violins. (See attached
copy Property Report).
Additionally, during this period four felony arrests were made for
assaults on emergency personnel and one felony arson arrest for
attempt arson at Parker Center.
018565
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Description
Operations central bureau, Riot Civil Unreset Report 1992, 1992 April 29- May 1.
Asset Metadata
Core Title
Operations central bureau, civil unrest report, 1992-04-29/1992-05-01
Tag
OAI-PMH Harvest
Format
15 p.
(format),
application/pdf
(imt),
official reports
(aat)
Permanent Link (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.25549/webster-c100-61349
Unique identifier
UC11426875
Identifier
box 29 (box),web-box29-15-01.pdf (filename),folder 15 (folder),webster-c100-61349 (legacy record id)
Legacy Identifier
web-box29-15/web-box29-15-01.pdf
Dmrecord
61349
Format
15 p. (format),application/pdf (imt),official reports (aat)
Type
texts
Tags
Folder test
Inherited Values
Title
Los Angeles Webster Commission records, 1931-1992
Description
Chaired by former federal judge and FBI and CIA Director William H. Webster, the Los Angeles Webster Commission assessed law enforcement's performance in connection with the April, 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest. The collection consists of materials collected and studied by the Commission over the course of its investigation. Materials pertain to both the Los Angeles incident specifically, and civil disturbance, civil unrest control, and policing tactics in general.
Included in the collection are the following: interviews with LAPD officers, law enforcement personnel, government officials, community leaders, and activists; articles, broadcasts, and press releases covering the civil unrest; various tactical and contingency plans created for disasters and emergencies; reports, studies, and manuals about civil unrest control and prevention; literature about community-based policing strategies; emergency plans and procedures developed by other cities; and after-action reports issued once the civil unrest had subsided. Also featured are items related to the internal operations of the LAPD both before and during the civil unrest, including activity reports, meeting agendas and minutes, arrest data, annual reports, curricula and educational materials, and personnel rosters.
See also the finding aid (https://archives.usc.edu/repositories/3/resources/2266).
See also The Los Angeles Riots: The Independent and Webster Commissions Collections (https://scalar.usc.edu/works/the-los-angeles-riots-christopher-and-webster-commissions-collections/index).
Related collections in the USC Digital Library:
? Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department, 1991 (see also the finding aid: https://archives.usc.edu/repositories/3/resources/2251)
? Richard M. Mosk Christopher Commission records, 1988-2011 (see also the finding aid: https://archives.usc.edu/repositories/3/resources/393)
? Kendall O. Price Los Angeles riots records, 1965-1967 (see also the finding aid: https://archives.usc.edu/repositories/3/resources/979)
? Watts riots records, 1965 (see also the finding aid: https://archives.usc.edu/repositories/3/resources/83)
Thanks to generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the USC Libraries are digitizing this collection for online public access.
Coverage Temporal
1931/1992