Report of the Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department

The videotaped beating of Rodney G. King by three uniformed officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, in the presence of a sergeant and with a large group of other officers standing by, galvanized public demand for evaluation and reform of police procedures involving the use of force. In the wake of the incident and the resulting widespread outcry, the Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department was created. The Commission sought to examine all aspects of the law enforcement structure in Los Angeles that might cause or contribute to the problem of excessive force. The report is unanimous. Full implementation of this report will require action by the mayor, the City Council, the Police Commission, the police department, and ultimately the voters. To monitor the progress of reform, the City Council should require reports on implementation at six month intervals from the mayor, the Council's own human resources and labor relations committee, the Police Commission, and the police department. The commission should reconvene in six months to assess the implementation of its recommendations and to report to the public.