Which Way, L.A.?
Police Killings and the Public's Right to Know
In Ferguson, Missouri, police have released the name of the cop who shot Michael Brown — but in LA it’s a different story. The LAPD and the Sheriff’s department are withholding the names of officers in two controversial killings. Should they be public information?
By Warren Olney • • 29m ListenIn Ferguson, Missouri, police have released the name of the cop who shot Michael Brown — but in LA it’s a different story. The LAPD and the Sheriff’s department are withholding the names of officers in two controversial killings. Should they be public information? What about potential “threats” and “ongoing investigations"?
Also, what happens when so-called “sexually violent predators” are released into communities?
Banner Image: Street sign with upside down flag at #HANDSUP! rally, Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, Downtown Los Angeles, 17 August 2014; Credit: Craig Dietrich
In this episode
2 storiesLAPD Refuses to Name Officer Who Killed Ezell Ford
Police in Ferguson, Missouri, were reluctant to release the name of the officer who killed Michael Brown, but they did, despite concern for his safety. In Los Angeles, the LAPD has refused to reveal who killed Ezell Ford, whose parents say he was mentally ill. What’s the public reaction here?
Read the story17 minWhat Happens When the ‘Pillowcase Rapist’ Lives Next Door
Convicted sex offenders are almost as unpopular as killers. So what happens when one of the few, hardcore offenders — called a “sexually violent predator” — is released back into communities following medical treatment? KCRW’s Saul Gonzalez went to the desert to find out.
Read the story13 min
