Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Exhibit at the Los Angeles Police Historical Society

SLA Exhibit Podcast

On Wednesday March 16, 2011, the Los Angeles Police Historical Society Museum unveiled a historic permanent museum exhibit that details the gun battle that raged between members of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) and the LAPD.  It remains the greatest known gun battle between law enforcement and an armed adversary.

The ribbon cutting ceremony to the three room exhibit, each room representing one of the three chapters in the common history of the LAPD and the SLA, was a well attended event.  Chief Charlie Beck and District Attorney Steve Cooley shared their thoughts about the case and commented on their involvement in the SLA's murderous history. 

The three special speakers were retired SWAT Sgt. Ron McCarthy, who was the lead SWAT supervisor during the 54th Street shootout, retired SWAT Sgt. Al Preciado, who was a SWAT team leader during the shootout, and retired Metro K-9 Officer John Hall, who was the intended victim of the Hollywood Division car bombing.  They all discussed their experiences with the SLA.

Please click on the link below to listen to the entire podcast. A time line of speakers is included.
Opening Remarks Deputy Chief Terry Hara 00:20 – 00:30
Chief Beck speaks 00:30 – 09:13
Steve Cooley 09:14 – 20:24
Retired SWAT Sgt. Ron McCarthy 20:25 – 29:54
Retired SWAT Sgt. Al Preciado 29:55 – 38:47
Retired Metro K-9 Officer John Hall 38:48 –  End

The Symbionese Liberation Army in Los Angeles exhibit is housed in three rooms on the second floor of the Los Angeles Police Historical Society Museum.  Each room represents one of the three chapters in the common history of the LAPD and the SLA.  Visitors enter the first room and experience the wall mounted history of the SLA and its members prior to their arrival in Los Angeles.  Both the murder of Dr. Marcus Foster and the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst are illustrated.

In the center room, which covers the SLA in Los Angeles, information regarding the Mel's sporting goods incident and the shootout with LAPD SWAT officers is available.  The wall graphics are supported by exhibit cases housing weapons used by the SLA and SWAT during that event. 

An interactive video element allows visitors to select video segments related to the entirety of the case.  A brief history of SWAT is featured, along with a life-sized cutout of a current SWAT team member.

In the third room, visitors learn about the SLA in flight and capture.  An exhibit case shows the components of the actual pipe bomb placed beneath an LAPD vehicle in August of 1975.   The attempted bombing was an act of retribution for the loss of SLA members in the shootout the previous year.  This incident resulted in the decades long hunt for the remaining members of the SLA, who were ultimately captured in 1999.  The wall graphics in this room also detail the cooperative LAPD/LA county DA prosecution of the SLA fugitives.  Information related to the sophisticated prosecution effort, led by the DA's office, is detailed throughout the room.

The entirety of this elaborate exhibit was designed by the District Attorney's office and fabricated and installed by a local printing firm that specializes in museum exhibits.

The Symbionese Liberation Army in Los Angeles exhibit is now open to the public at the Los Angeles Police Historical Society, 6045 York Blvd., Los Angeles. General admission: $8, seniors: $7, children 12 and younger enter free. Hours of operations are: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; third Saturday of the month, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking is available on the east and west side of the building. http://www.laphs.org