A Pattern of Racism and Police Brutality? (1991)

In the weeks after Rodney King beating, Americans debated if the incident was emblematic of systemic racism and violence within the Los Angeles Police Department. The 1980s had seen intensified efforts to crack down on crime, as localities across the country increased spending on policing to respond to a rise of homicide and gang violence. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Daryl Gates oversaw Operation Hammer, a yearslong anti-gang violence initiative in which police officers raided apartment buildings and conducted mass arrests. These efforts were criticized by many residents who felt the goal of these tactics was to harass and intimidate residents of color rather than to keep communities safe.

This segment, from a late March 1991 episode of The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, discusses public perceptions of the LAPD and examines the frequency of police brutality. Many critics called for Gates’ resignation, accusing him of fostering a culture of racism on the force. They argued that police brutality was frequent but rarely prosecuted, even in cases where there was physical or video evidence, and pointed to racist computer messages sent by LAPD officers (included in the report) as proof that this violence was commonplace. Also interviewed was a Black LAPD sergeant (also interviewed here) who felt that police were unfairly maligned and “scrutinized too much.” She argued that belief and trust in the LAPD was needed to keep communities safe.

The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour | NewsHour Productions : Washington D.C. | March 28, 1991 This video clip and associated transcript appear from 45:55 - 52:17 in the full record.