Three investigations have been launched: an overall departmental review of tactics, an internal affairs investigation into the behavior of the officers and commanders on the scene, and an independent review by the Inspector General, the investigative arm of the Police Commission.
Still, calls came Wednesday for outside scrutiny.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday May 04, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 3 inches; 111 words Type of Material: Correction
MacArthur Park melee: A photo caption on Thursday's front page accompanying an article about the melee in MacArthur Park during an immigration rights rally stated that a Los Angeles police officer "picks up KCBS cameraman Carl Stein to move him out of the way." Stein said that he was videotaping the rally when police knocked him down. The image showed Stein, who was on his knees, being grabbed from behind by police officers who were forcing him forward. Also, another article about the melee in Thursday's Section A incorrectly referred to the USC Annenberg Institute for Justice in Journalism. The correct name is the USC Annenberg Institute for Justice and Journalism.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) asked Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley to launch an independent investigation into the LAPD's actions.
Some longtime LAPD observers said Tuesday's protest was reminiscent of clashes between protesters and police during the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in which some demonstrators and reporters were injured.
The city settled a lawsuit brought by seven reporters, in part, by agreeing to recognize journalists' right to cover public protests even if a declaration of unlawful assembly is made and an order to disperse is issued.
"This has echoes of the DNC," said attorney Constance Rice, who has studied LAPD management and policing issues for several years. "It suggests the old LAPD overreaction to things."
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richard.winton@latimes.com
andrew.blankstein@latimes.com
Times staff writers Megan Garvey, Anna Gorman, Patrick McGreevy, Jill Leovy, Francisco Vara-Orta, Tami Abdollah, Paul Pringle and Matt Lait contributed to this report.
