So far in 2023, at least four deaths have occurred in Southern California at the hands of the police. Three were in Los Angeles County and one in Orange County.

The recent database compiled by the Los Angeles Times from the Los Angeles County medical examiner's homicide records indicates that since 2001, at least 991 people have been killed by police in Los Angeles County.

The data reported that the majority of those killed were male. Nearly 80% were Black or Latino, with  more than 94% shot to death. In almost all cases, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office found that the use of force was legally justified.

The report indicates that since 2000, only two officers were charged as a result of shooting a civilian while on duty.

One more was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was acquitted, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office confirmed.

Approximately 49% of the population of Los Angeles is Latino, accounting for 54% of deaths at the hands of police, totaling 534 cases. African-Americans, who represent about 8% of the Los Angeles County population, account for 24% of victims, or 237 deaths at the hands of the authorities.

Meanwhile the statistics show whites, who represent 26% of the population of Los Angeles, account for 19% of police killings, or 184.

According to data compiled from the LA Times, young people of color between the ages of 20 and 39 are the most affected, and in areas primarily where people of color live such as Compton and Long Beach.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office indicated that since George Gascón took over leadership of the office in 2021 to date, at least 21 shootings involving 25 law enforcement officers are under investigation.

Additionally, the prosecutor’s website shows a detailed list of cases where the use of armed force was used following proper procedure. In 2022, of the 63 reported officer-involved shootings, at least 43 resulted in the death of the suspect they were attempting to arrest or question.

All of these cases were justified according to the results of the investigations, and a memorandum was presented detailing exactly what happened; however, family members of the victims and activists disagreed.

Seeking Justice

Furious that more people are dying at the hands of police, a group of activists held a press conference yesterday in front of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

Some of the participants held up in their hands photographs of some of the most recent deaths at the hands of the authorities: Takar Smith, Keenan Anderson and Oscar León Sánchez. All three died between January 2 and January 3 of 2023 and all three had mental health problems.

Noche Díaz, an activist with The Revolution Club, said it is outrageous to see that year after year the number of people killed by police continues to increase. He said that having mental health problems is not a crime, and people should not lose their lives for this reason; on the contrary, they should receive help.

“We are not here to say what we want the police to do, because we know they will not stop until we get rid of the system,” Díaz said. “If you look at the body camera videos of the officers, you see how all these men (the victims) know in their minds, in their bones and in their hearts, that they face a death sentence if they make the wrong move.”

He asserted that despite the fact that this is a difficult subject and the data shows that Latinos are the ones who are dying in greater numbers at the hands of the police, this situation should not be interpreted as a division of identities or races.

“We can’t let them turn this into, oh, it’s about Latinos or it’s about Blacks, because the reality is that this country was founded on white supremacy, the enslavement of Black people and genocide against indigenous people, as well as the theft of land from Mexico,” he stressed. “All of this is part of the same system and they make us fight among ourselves for crumbs.”

The activist said they are not only protesting against police brutality, but they are also calling on people to join a revolution to fight for vital changes and reforms.

“We are going to challenge people to join the revolution, to stand up and defend each other from police violence,” Díaz said. “We have to fight as human beings to end this whole system and create a different world for everyone”.

Meanwhile, Michelle Xai, a member of The Revolution Club, asserted that the message they wanted to make clear in front of the premises of the LAPD is that the deaths are unnecessary.

She asserted that the police have demonstrated that they cannot deal with cases where people have mental health problems, which is why a change in security policies is needed.

"We need a whole different society and a whole different police force, we need a whole different system that does not need the police to kill people," Xai said.

In a large number of cases, the victims lost their lives with the police claiming that they feared for their lives, that they thought the suspects were armed or that the suspects did not obey orders and made a movement, and the law enforcement officers had no choice but to shoot.

However, the victims’ families and activists no longer believe these arguments. Based on some of the videos, they believe that something else could have been done instead of shooting.

Police Tactics

Under law SB 230, every law enforcement agency in the state of California is required to provide guidelines on the use of force, using de-escalation techniques and other alternatives to force when feasible, with specific guidelines for the application of deadly force, and factors for evaluating and reviewing all use-of-force incidents.

The LAPD Department Manual indicates that its officers use techniques and tools consistent with training to minimize tension and de-escalate any encounter with a suspect.

They initially begin with a verbal warning including crisis intervention or other alternatives before using force. In the event the person does not comply with orders, they then use non-lethal force. This is to defend themselves; defend others; make an arrest or detention; prevent escape; or overcome resistance.

Officers are not permitted to draw their weapons unless there is an extreme need to use deadly force. This is for the officer or another person to defend themselves against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury; or to apprehend a fleeing person for any serious crime that threatened or resulted in death or serious bodily injury.

The Seal Beach Police Kill Another Person

Another shooting involving a police officer where the suspect was killed occurred Monday night. The incident occurred in Seal Beach, Orange County at about 9:36 p.m. Officers from the Seal Beach Police Department responded to a call reporting a suspicious person in front of one of the residences in the 100 block of Old Ranch Road.

When officers arrived, they attempted to communicate with the subject but he allegedly pulled a firearm initiating an officer-involved shooting.

Following the shooting, officers provided life-saving services for the suspect, who was eventually transported to a local hospital where he died. A firearm was recovered at the scene, authorities said.

The individual has only been identified as a 47-year-old Irvine male resident. More information on his identity is expected to be provided once family members are notified.

No officers were injured in this case.

La Opinión attempted to ascertain the current status of the officers involved but at press time there was no response from the Seal Beach Police Department.

Meanwhile, the Orange County District Attorney’s office has begun an investigation into what happened, said Kimberly Edds, a spokeswoman for the district attorney.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about what happened to contact Seal Beach police Detective Sergeant Jeff Gibson at (562) 799-4100 ext. 1128 or jgibson@sealbeachca.gov.