CHP isn't supposed to aim less-lethal munitions at protesters' heads and fire into crowds. It did at UCLA

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://calmatters.org/justice/2024/05/ucla-protest-palestine-police/

As California Highway Patrol officers in riot gear dispersed pro-Palestinian protests at UCLA on May 2, they regularly aimed or fired their less-lethal weapons at protesters in ways that appear to go against training guidelines or state law.

Just before 4 o’clock on Thursday morning, three CHP Special Response Teams with batons formed a skirmish line outside Royce Hall at UCLA. Some officers behind and next to them carried shotguns loaded with beanbag rounds or 40mm launchers with sponge rounds, less-lethal munitions referred to as a “pain compliance device” by its manufacturer.

A review of CalMatters video from inside the encampment documented at least 25 instances in which those officers appeared to aim their weapons at the eye level of protesters or fired them into crowds that didn’t appear to present an immediate threat to life or serious injury. In some instances, the officers approached kneeling protesters with the launchers aimed at point-blank range.

Law enforcement officers across the state are trained that these types of munitions “shall not be aimed at the head, neck or any other vital organs,” according to guidelines from California Commission on Peace of Officers and Standards Training. “We do not train to point at people’s heads unless it’s a deadly force situation,” said Travis Norton, a retired police lieutenant who developed a course on the use of less-lethal weapons for the commission.

Quick, more money for training!!1!!11!1!!!11!!!!1!!!!!!

[malaise]

1. Sickening

Rec

[RockRaven]

2. Cops that enact violence outside of the boundaries of their training are

hardly more than a street gang with near total immunity.

[TexasDem69]

4. Based on my reading of the article

A single officer “enacted” violence by firing multiple beanbags into a crowd. That’s it unless I missed something

[PufPuf23]

16. CalMatters summary at top of article at link - You didn't read the article maybe?

IN SUMMARY

A CalMatters review documented at least 25 instances in which officers appeared to aim their weapons at the eye-level of pro-Palestinian protesters or fired them into crowds.

CalMatters is excellent about all things California.

There are pictures of 11 instances by the minute of CHP actions at the link and a link to video taken by CalMatters.

https://calmatters.org/justice/2024/05/ucla-protest-palestine-police/

from the CalMatters link:

In 2021, California outlawed the practice of shooting less-lethal munitions at people merely to disperse them, after their use caused serious injuries during demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. The law restricts officers from using them except when there is a “threat to life or serious bodily injury.”

In response to CalMatters’ questions, CHP Director of Communications Jamie Coffee said that officers did indeed face a threat from protesters. “When certain demonstrators in the unlawful assembly became assaultive and posed an immediate threat to officers by launching objects and weapons, some officers used kinetic specialty rounds to protect themselves, other officers, and members of the public,” she said.

Protesters do not appear to attack or threaten the CHP officers in the videos recorded by CalMatters, including the same videos in which police are seen aiming or firing less-lethal munitions. No battery or assault charges have been announced against protesters.

[TexasDem69]

3. I read the article

Nobody was injured and a lot of the complaints were about “aiming” at folks, not actually firing beanbags at them. Even the article says nothing appeared problematic, other than one officer who fired three beanbags in quick succession. Hardly Kent State. Quote from the article about the single officer who apparently used too many bean bags:

Jeff Winneger, who oversaw investigations into officer-involved shootings and significant use of force incidents at the Los Angeles Police Department, said overall law enforcement handled the protests in a measured way, but said he was “shocked” by the actions of this masked officer, who fired a number of bean bag rounds in succession into a crowd.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. There you go again, introducing facts into a perfectly good rant.

Thanks for posting what really happened, the OP makes it seem like all the troopers were firing into the crowd when in fact that's not the case at all.

[Silent Type]

8. +1. Not saying any of that was really necessary, but I'm not ready to overreact either.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Cops can break the law as long as no one gets hurt, got it

[MarineCombatEngineer]

10. The trooper who fired is now under investigation and will more than likely be disciplined

but your thread makes it seem like all the troopers were either pointing or firing their less than lethal weapons at the protesters when that's not the case at all.

[Jedi Guy]

17. Blue man bad. Blue man always bad. N/T

[TexasDem69]

11. Weak straw man. What law did they break?

The article plainly states that the “aiming” issue relates to internal training guidance. It goes on to state that a single officer might have violated the law by firing beanbags into a crowd, but that is disputed. So no, nobody is arguing that police can break the law. I imagine you know that.

[Mopar151]

5. San Diego cops!

Shot a beanbag round at their "de-escalation" trainer, hit him in the groin. Hurt him badly, he may be permanently disabled! (IIRC). Kalifornia Kriminal. Kops have some seriously bad history regarding protestors, or just regular people! Remember - the man who wrote this was from LA, He Knew!

(some of those who work forces, are those who burn crosses....)

?si=L0xvcpZS29MiT810

[TexasDem69]

12. Rage is a great band

But I doubt these same police are the subject of that song.

[Mopar151]

15. How many Million$$$ have the Kalifornia Klan cost the taxpayers for beating the crap out of people?

The answer is Way Too Many!

[Mopar151]

6. Kalifornia Kriminal Kops in San Diego......

Shot a beanbag round at their "de-escalation" trainer, hit him in the groin. Hurt him badly, he may be permanently disabled! (IIRC). Kalifornia Kriminal. Kops have some seriously bad history regarding protestors, or just regular people! Remember - the man who wrote this was from LA, He Knew!

(some of those who work forces, are those who burn crosses....)

?si=L0xvcpZS29MiT810