ACTIVISM or COWARDICE?

At a recent public hearing, an activist group, who will remain nameless as always, entered the hearing and began their usual chants and rhetorical pot shots against the Los Angeles Police Department and myself.  This is nothing new.  Most people are immune to their tactics, which are almost comical, until we see the negative results of their activities.

Yet what was different than before, was the fact that these activist took it upon themselves to attack a fallen officer, who had valiantly given up his life trying to save lives, along with his injured partner.  This officer is not able to defend himself.  As we all know, we recently lost not only a great officer, but also a wonderful human being.  On duty and off duty, SWAT Officer Randy Simmons dedicated his life to protecting the community and mentoring to children.

In the wake of his death, a member of this activist group decided to verbally assault the memory of this officer, by implying that his death was punishment from God, as a result of our police activities in skid row.  If that were the case, don’t you think the incident would have been more localized.  Furthermore, the officer was a man of God who had a solid faith in the Lord.  This in my opinion is low even for this particular activist group.  As I have written many times, I do not care if anyone speaks negatively of me, it is their right to do so.  But I will always defend our officers and myself when they slander us.

This act is one of many acts of cowardice displayed by some radical groups in the area.  They, know that we cannot verbally confront their lies, as we are required to carefully try to ensure their right to free speech (even their hate speech).  If we respond to them, they twist our words and run down to the police station and make a complaint, which is more than likely not based on fact and can potentially hurt the career of the officer who responds to them.  For years they knew that we could not respond.  But I decided to change that.  I did not give up my right to defend myself and speak out when I was sworn into the police academy.

I decided after the Democratic National Convention in 2000, that being silent was not taking the moral high ground, for what is immoral against standing up to those who lie and defame us.  If we continue to allow this, we only enable our detractors to continue to drag this Department through the mud, causing the focus to be on the few negative exceptions of law enforcement rather than the honorable rule.  This causes a divide between the community and the police department that hinders positive relationships with each other.

But now I use my 1st Amendment right to tell you the Skid Row community, about how I truly feel about serving you, instead of just letting you hear it from liars and embellisher's with an agenda.

Their display was a disgusting act and a clear indicator of the length some activists will go to just to make a statement.  As disgusting were the men and women who stood up and said that this group was “honorable,” after they made these horrible statements about a man that was not a coward, but a hero in every sense of the word.

I am limited in what I can say in response to them, for as I said before, I am held to a standard of professionalism, which they are not.  But I would not wish or gloat over a tragedy involving them, for I only have disdain for their tactics, but not for them individually as my faith teaches.  In closing, I leave you with comparisons of our brave LAPD officers to some radical activist groups:

Officers like Randall Simmons run to danger to try to save people’s lives.  Activist groups throw stones at them from a safe place for doing so. 

Officers are not afraid to put their reputations on the line when they do their jobs. Activists are afraid of how they will be perceived if they actually take a stand against the criminal element.

This Department and some others have largely been alone in the fight to make Skid Row a safer place.  Radical activists only hide and criticize us for trying to do so, with no clue of how difficult it is to combat crime.

Officers do the best they can to tackle the gang problems, which hinder a safe environment for Skid Row residents.  Activists sit back and watch this occur and refuse to report it, even as it occurs in front of their office.

Activists have the audacity to ask City officials to violate my first Amendment rights to tell the truth about their tactics, and hide behind the same rights to spread lies, paranoia, and propaganda against the Department.

I will leave it to you to decide who the real cowards are.

Sincerely,

Central Area Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph

Comments

[DK]

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." As long as good men like Officer Joseph are around, evil will not triumph. It's a shame that these so-called "activists" want to return Skid Row to the cesspool of years past. Officers such as Officer Joseph have worked tirelessley to improve the conditions in the area, and these folks want it handed back to the drug dealers, sex peddlers, parolees at large, etc, etc.

It's really a shame that these groups such as this cannot be publicly named by Officer Joseph...anyone with the audacity to go into a public forum and attempt to smear the reputation and memory of Randal Simmons - another good man who stood against evil - should be denounced as the hate-mongers and cowards that they really are.

Officer Joseph, keep up the good fight!

[Jack]

Curious there's no mention in this blog of Bratton's press conference today about the rise in homicide rates within LA. Hopefully something will be posted so the taxpayers can discuss this issue.

[Jennie]

Wow, unbelievable that someone would say something so cruel about a fallen hero. These folks are not only cowards but also miserable people full of hate. Why so much hate and anger? Who knows but what a miserable way to live.

Officer Joseph and all of your fellow officers, do not let these people get to you. That is what they want. It is disgusting what they said and what the do but their words and actions cannot take away the good that Officer Simmons did, that you do, and what all of you do day in and day out. I had an opportunity to quickly speak to Officer Hart at the marathon this weekend as I waited to see the S.W.A.T. team carry the torch. He said something along the lines of Officer Simmons being special or extroadinary, something like that. He was right but Officer Simmons what not an exception. Really many of you are special and extroadinary. Many of you could be working a safer, cleaner, less stressful beat but you chose to be where you can make the greatest difference. You folks are greatly appreciated. Besides, citizens don't listen to the activists. We are smart enough to look and see that you folks are trying to make Skid Row and the rest of L.A. a better safer place. Really, the difference can be seen. You have all made great strides in improving the community.

Unfortunately, these cowards are always going to be there. Stay strong and ignore them. Be safe and thanks for all that you do.

[cr]

Lies-Lies and more Lies from the L.A.P.D or one Lair

[SLO Joseph]

Hello CR. Before you label me a liar, I must offer you a challenge to see for yourself the things I speak of.

The difference between this era of the LAPD and radical activists is simple.

Radical activists are not challenging people to come to skid row and see police officers brutilizing the homeless because they are afraid of being exposed for the agenda fueled lies that they tell.

Yet on just about every blog entry I have posted, I offered the challenge for people to come down to skid row and see for themselves the REALITY of skid row, so they could talk to the officers, the homeless, and the service providers who help the homeless daily.

That offer is still on the table. Every first Wednsday at 6:00 PM, we have a communtiy walk through the skid row area. I will be there.

I will have an open mind to your views, I hope you will grant me the same courtesy.

If not, I still appreciate your response. Take care.

[Distraught Country Man]

It is so disusting to see what our country has come to. Defend the criminals to see your group/name in the paper/TV. We change policy and laws to appease the "minority" of citizans who yell the loudest. And the funny thing that I see, is that those yelling, are the ones who contribute the least to society. If you look back on several incidents its not hard to picture this. Look at the flashlight striks from a South-end copper. Woops, policy chang. The shooting of Devin Brown, woops policy change. May Day 2007, woops policy change. All of these changes came by the rantings of radical activists. And as we know, the cheif, council, mayor, and police commission cowered down and changed policys to appease them (a manority of people). The sad thing is, the people who matter the most are at work all day and don't have the time to protest. They have familys and lives to contend with.

As we continue to go down the same path, we weaken the effectiveness of the police department. We make our culture dissapear as we change to appease everyone else.