CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
January 20, 2009 | By Andrew Blankstein
When local protests broke out this month over the Israeli invasion of Gaza, Los Angeles Police Department officials decided that officers at the scene should not immediately wear their riot helmets out of concerns the gear might escalate passions among the demonstrators. But the decision has now generated controversy after a protester hit an officer with the wood post of a protest sign during a march in Westwood.