The command staff change was welcomed by Police Commission President John Mack, who called the May Day incident a "very disturbing and troubling event." He told Diaz: "We have high expectations but we also have confidence in you."
Bratton's condemnation of officer behavior was criticized Tuesday by Bob Baker, head of the police union, in an appearance on KFI-AM (640). Baker said some comments by the chief were "way over the top" and "inappropriate and unnecessary."
Baker warned that the public could see a "mass hesitation" by officers if they are asked to respond to similar incidents.
The chief's briefing was followed by the first public hearing on the incident. It played out before an audience of more than 200 people jammed in an auditorium at Parker Center, the Police Department's headquarters near City Hall.
The commission heard nearly four hours of angry testimony, most of it from those injured at the rally and activists calling for systemic changes in the LAPD.
More than 20 of those who testified called for Bratton to be fired, and many demanded that the city create an elected civilian police review board to independently investigate police abuse allegations. In the past, LAPD leaders have fought off similar proposals, saying the civilian Police Commission appointed by the mayor provides adequate independent oversight.
"To us, the police action of May 1 was clearly an action to suppress our movement and instill fear," said Raul Anorve, a rally organizer and executive director of the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California.
Angelas Salas, another organizer, said police did not provide sufficient warning before they fired 148 foam-rubber projectiles at the crowd.
"What we saw was that there was no attention paid to the safety of the crowd, especially the children," Salas said.
Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and a close advisor to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said: "We are saddened that on May 1 our rights were not protected."
Others who testified talked of being hit by officers. Frank Garcia, a cameraman for KMEX-TV Channel 34, said he failed to understand why police did not follow rules setting aside safety zones for the media.
"It seems that that day it was payback to the media," Garcia said. "We didn't deserve to get hit."
Pete White was among those who called on the Police Commission not to grant Bratton another five-year term as chief -- a decision the officials had been on the verge of making before the May Day trouble.
