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Council presses police, fire chiefs on crowd-control choices after Lakers celebration unrest
Summary
Los Angeles City Council members questioned police and fire leaders about decisions to prioritize life over property after vandalism and fires following the Lakers’ championship celebration. Chiefs defended measured tactics, and council members called for after-action reviews and plans for upcoming events including tomorrow’s parade and the DNC.
Los Angeles City Council members questioned police and fire leaders on why officers and firefighters did not immediately intervene when vandals damaged vehicles and set fires after the Lakers’ championship, while officials said prioritizing public safety guided their response.
Council members sought explanations after widely broadcast images showed people jumping on police cars, destroying news vans and burning vehicles following last night’s game. Police and fire leaders told the council they made conscious decisions to limit direct intervention in parts of the crowd to avoid escalating danger to bystanders and responders.
“Basically, we agreed that the number one priority of the plan was the safety of 30,000 people in and around that facility,” a speaker identified in the meeting as a police representative told the council, describing decisions not to send squads into tightly packed crowds where officers could…
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