Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department

Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department. The Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department, also known as the Christopher Commission, was established in 1991 by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley to investigate the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in response to the Rodney King beating incident, which involved Laurence Powell, Stacey Koon, Timothy Wind, and Theodore Briseno. The commission's investigation led to significant reforms within the LAPD, with recommendations implemented by Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates and later by Willie Williams, the first African American to hold the position. The commission's work was influenced by the Kerner Commission and the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, and its findings were widely reported by media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.

● Introduction

The Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department was formed in the aftermath of the Rodney King beating, which was captured on video by George Holliday and sparked widespread outrage and protests in Los Angeles and across the United States. The commission was chaired by Warren Christopher, a former United States Deputy Secretary of State and United States Deputy Attorney General, and included members such as Milton H. Miller, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, and Constance Rice, a civil rights attorney. The commission's investigation was supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and its findings were influenced by the work of scholars such as James Q. Wilson and George Kelling. The commission's report was also informed by the Wickersham Commission and the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice.

● Background

The Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department was established to investigate allegations of police brutality and racial profiling within the LAPD, which had been the subject of controversy for many years, including during the Watts riots and the Zoot Suit Riots. The commission's investigation was also influenced by the work of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and the Commission on Civil Rights. The commission reviewed numerous cases of alleged police misconduct, including the beating of Rodney King, and heard testimony from Los Angeles Police Department officers, including Laurence Powell and Stacey Koon, as well as from community leaders such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. The commission's investigation was supported by the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and its findings were widely reported by media outlets such as CNN and MSNBC.

● Findings and Recommendations

The Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department issued a report in 1991 that found a pattern of excessive force and racial bias within the LAPD, and made numerous recommendations for reform, including the establishment of a civilian review board and the implementation of community-based policing strategies. The commission's report was influenced by the work of scholars such as Samuel Walker and Michael Tonry, and its findings were supported by organizations such as the Police Foundation and the National Institute of Justice. The commission's recommendations were also informed by the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 and the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA). The commission's report was widely praised by community leaders such as Maxine Waters and Zev Yaroslavsky, and its recommendations were implemented by the LAPD under the leadership of Willie Williams and later by Bernard Parks.

● Impact and Reforms

The Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department had a significant impact on the LAPD and the broader law enforcement community, leading to reforms such as the establishment of a civilian review board, the implementation of community-based policing strategies, and the development of new policies and procedures for the use of force. The commission's recommendations were also influential in shaping national policy on policing, including the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The commission's work was recognized by organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and its findings were widely reported by media outlets such as the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune. The commission's legacy continues to be felt today, with its recommendations influencing policing practices in cities such as New York City and Chicago, and its findings informing the work of scholars such as David Bayley and Gary Marx.

● Membership and Operations

The Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department was composed of 10 members, including Warren Christopher, Milton H. Miller, and Constance Rice, who were appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. The commission was staffed by a team of investigators and researchers, including Jeffrey Anderson, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent, and Andrea Guerrero, a civil rights attorney. The commission's operations were supported by the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, and its findings were informed by the work of organizations such as the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA). The commission's report was also influenced by the United States Commission on Civil Rights and the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement, and its recommendations were implemented by the LAPD under the leadership of Willie Williams and later by Bernard Parks.