Response Statement on Los Angeles Times Report Regarding Officer Frank Hernandez
Response Statement on Los Angeles Times Report Regarding Officer Frank Hernandez
Los Angeles, September 9, 2010 - The Los Angeles Times reported today that veteran LAPD Officer Frank Hernandez has been involved in two previous officer-involved shootings. In response, Paul M. Weber, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) issued the following statement:
"The LAPPL does not generally discuss personnel issues, however we agree with Chief Beck that Officer Hernandez should not come under suspicion simply because of his involvement in previous incidents where he confronted armed suspects.
In response to the release of this information by "unnamed" LAPD sources, the fact is that in each previous incident, Officer Hernandez was found to have acted appropriately when confronted by armed suspects refusing to yield. Whether or not Officer Hernandez has had other similar experiences in the field should have no bearing on the outcome of this recent turn of events, which will ultimately be judged by the individual circumstances.
It is unfortunate that our society has come to the place where a lawful command from an officer goes ignored. Oftentimes, this sets into motion a regrettable series of events, as in this case. As the League has maintained, when an armed individual refuses police orders to end the threat they are posing to the safety of officers and the public, they are subjecting themselves to the consequences of their actions, which may include being shot.
Comments made by civil rights activists indicating that an officer could or should simple shoot a suspect with a weapon in the leg is preposterous. This notion, no doubt influenced by the romanticized portrayal of police work in movies and television, largely ignores the reality of policing the streets of Los Angeles, where police officers are attacked in excess of 500 times annually and shot at over a dozen times a year. These are not just exchanges of gunfire between criminals and officers, but cold-blooded attempts to murder unsuspecting officers.
Public safety requires a strong two-way partnership. We need to make it clear that Los Angeles is a city in which violence against the community or its police officers is never tolerated. The dedicated men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department who serve to protect our communities deserve all the tools and support the community can possibly provide. The LAPPL asks the public and our community leaders to continue to support our officers and make sure that criminals do not deter them from making Los Angeles the safest big city in America."
Contact: Eric Rose (805) 624-0572 or Paul Haney (626) 755-4759
About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.
