No Love Lost Between LAPD and L.A. Times
They may be neighbors this time next year — but the city's police department and powerful newspaper have a running feud that has soured relations for decades.
In the very heart of downtown Los Angeles, in the shadow of City Hall, a new office building is nearing completion at the corner of First and Spring Streets. With its modern, steel-and-glass design, the new building stands in sharp contrast to its venerable neighbor just across Spring Street, a 1930s Art Deco masterpiece designed by Gordon Kaufmann, architect of the Hoover Dam.
As different as the buildings are in their architectural styles, the greater distinction lies in the organizations these two structures represent. Sometime early next year, the modern building will become the new headquarters for the Los Angeles Police Department, which will move from the boxy, ‘50s-era Parker Center so familiar to viewers of the Dragnet television series. And when the cops have at last moved into their new offices, they’ll be able to look across Spring Street and see their neighbors in the Art Deco landmark doing in reality what they’ve seen them doing figuratively for years: looking down their noses at them.
The Art Deco landmark, you see, houses the writers and editors of the Los Angeles Times. Moving the cops into close quarters with all those ink-stained wretches at the Times is rather like the Capulets moving in across the street from the Montagues, such is the antipathy we cops have for the scribes at the paper and they for us. Which is not to say there will soon be swordplay in the middle of Spring Street (although that does conjure up an interesting visual), but it could make for some interesting encounters on the sidewalks and in the taverns nearby.
I should point out that this antipathy is not universal on either side. I, for one, am on friendly terms with a number of Times writers and editors, and I’ve been fortunate enough to write an occasional column for the paper’s opinion pages. But when it comes to the LAPD as a whole, the attitude at the Times seems to be one of sneering condescension. And as for my colleagues in blue, attitudes toward the city’s newspaper of record ranges from blithe disregard to utter contempt. For example, when I ask my coworkers if they have read this or that article or editorial in the paper, the responses tend to run along these lines:
“I don’t read the L.A. Times.”
Or, “I read it and I hated it.”
Or, perhaps the most common, “I don’t read the (insert common but unprintably graphic expletive here) L.A. Times.”
Why do such attitudes prevail among the city’s cops? It is simple.
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“Jack Dunphy” is the pseudonym of an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. The opinions expressed are his own and almost certainly do not reflect those of the LAPD management.
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36 Comments
1. Broadsword:Recently here in St. Paul MN, Catholics and the Catholic Church held two processionals. On Mother’s Day a Rosary Processional with several hundreds of participants, reciting the Rosary en route, walked the one mile from the domed state capitol building to the equally sized domed Cathedral building. A statue of The Blessed Virgin was carried by uniformed ROTC members, followed by uniformed Knights of Columbus members, (with swords and full “regalia”), church members from parishes throughout the region, each with their respective church banners. Streets were blocked. Speakers receiving radio transmissions of the Rosary leader from the cathedral were spaced about every 100 yards. The local paper in St. Paul wrote…nothing. Similarly for the Corpus Christi procession. (The streets blocked for this included the very busy West 7th street/Shepard street intersection, adjacent to the Excel (convention) Center. Again…nothing. Perhaps for the latter it could have been arranged to have homosexual activists screaming at us…. For myself, I do not read the papers.
May 31, 2008 - 4:19 am 2. Roy:The Los Angeles Times and New York Times are on the fast track to extinction. I would rather share time with a police officer than a Times reporter any day. The Times continues to expose it’s biases on many topics, including politics, and will be it’s ultimate undoing.
May 31, 2008 - 6:39 am 3. Bill Perron:The L. A. Times is has a very obvious liberal and self righteius bent that is disgusting, way to often the paper attempts to influence events rather than just doing it’s job of reporting events. Only the ignorant and the lefties read it. The population of L. A. keeps growing and the circulation of the Times keeps shrinking. To an objective observer the conclusion would be that there is something decidedly wrong with a paper that is having that kind of problem, but the lefties who run the Times make the same mistake all lefties make, they are so sure their view of the world is correct that they just can’t imagine they are wrong about anything. So they continue down their path of self destruction totally oblivious of reality.
May 31, 2008 - 9:57 am 4. seansarto:Shoot… try readin’ the trickle of a newspaper that the Pasadena Star (LA Time’s Neighbor…or the ole “enemy of my enemy is a friend of mine” kaboodle)…The day after Hillary Clinton won California’s delegates, (over their beloved Obama)the paper’s headline read, “McCain Surges”. All hard up to please it’s readers.
May 31, 2008 - 12:34 pm 5. seansarto:Shoot, try readin’ the Neighborin’ kit an kaboodle, “an enemy of my enemy is a friend of mine”, trickle of derision that the Pasadena Star News is…On the day after Hilary Clinton won California’s delegates the paper posted this headline, “McCain surges” It’s allusions plain an’all hard-up ta please it’s readers.
May 31, 2008 - 12:39 pm 6. seansarto:Shoot, try readin’ the Neighborin’ kit an kaboodle, “an enemy of my enemy is a friend of mine”, trickle of mopspew an’ hogslop that the Pasadena Star News is…On the day after Hillary Clinton won California’s delegates the paper posted this headline, “McCain surges” It’s allusions plain an’all hard-up ta please it’s readers.
May 31, 2008 - 12:50 pm 7. ex-liberal:The joke goes that a Times editor is asked about diversity at his paper: He indignantly replies that the Times employs black lefties, Jewish lefties, gay lefties, white lefties…
Kudos to Jack on his analysis. Since I joined the LAPD in 1980, the Times has enjoyed a cozy relationship with LA’s corrupt forces (Bradley, Hahn, Villar, ACLU, UTLA, Garcetti, etc.) for reasons that parallel Al Jazeera’s relationship with Hezbollah and Al Qaeda. As long as the LAPD is busy chasing its tail we can’t snoop around a corrupt mayor or his criminal friends. Why else would an LA moyor appoint an East Coast police chief or a convicted con-man’s son (Rick Caruso) be appointed president of the Police Commission? (Rick parlayed his father’s ill-gotten gains into quite a career.)
During the early 1990s, the Times had no problem trashing my name with false charges on Page One. After the judge and prosecutors were found guilty of violating my civil rights a year later, they forget to mention that the prosecutor who Nifonged me was elevated to judge. My exoneration ended up near the obits.
I retired in 2000 because the dirtbags and felons I met on the street weren’t nearly as dangerous as the politicians I worked for, or as depraved as the Times editorial staff that make sport of destroying good cops.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve fully recovered my life and I’m one of the very few retired cops who live in LA. I plan to stick around until the paper of record finally collapses. Thank God for Jack Dunphy, talk radio, and credible Internet sources like Pajamas Media.
One more thing Jack – don’t tell anyone who you are. The LAPD and city management doesn’t care about quaint notions like the First Amendment.
May 31, 2008 - 2:46 pm 8. I.M. Copper:Society also places values on things by allotting them monies. The LA Times faces financial ruin and imminent lay-offs while the agency it has spent the better part of forty-five years it attempts to demonize gets a nice, new big building, no-less overlooking the Times, and a larger budget to boot. In these tough financial times it is clear that keeping Angelinos safe is more important than advising them of what new band is playing in Hollywood tonight.
Where are the priorities of the people of Los Angeles? Ask the elected officials and most will tell you public safety is number one. Where does the need for a city major newspaper rate in such a question? Well, with the Internet and so many other forms of instant media, it factors less and less.
If the LA Times would have focused on quality reporting, intelligent editing, and strived to be the top paper in the country instead of crusading or re-hashing old stories with little or no investigative angle, and questionable interest level, then possibly that paper would have found itself in a more tenable position. Instead, the newspaper that only writes a positive word about its’ police force after a tragic death of one of its members is not worthy of my patronage or time, and apparently it is not worth yours either.
May 31, 2008 - 3:18 pm 9. Ed O'Shea:As an LAPD Officer it gives me great joy to see that rag circle the drain. That rag isn’t worthy of even being used as a urine catcher for my dog. I might use it to wrap up my pooch’s #2 if it happens to be discarded on the sidewalk at the right moment, but that’s about it.
May 31, 2008 - 4:30 pm 10. rockdalian:The Times is owned by the Tribune company; among many other papers, the Chicago Tribune is also circling the drain. The Tribune never met an anti gun law they did not like. That, among many other reasons, is why the paper is failing.
May 31, 2008 - 6:01 pm 11. sixfingers:Cops are the same all over the country.
May 31, 2008 - 7:38 pm 12. Sulaco:I watched a lady driving alone in the commuter lane. Twenty cops following her. It looked like a circus parade. When she stopped two cops ran up a drug her from the car. They threw her to the ground and jumped on her.
I can’t imagine what they would have if she had committed a real crime. She is lucky to be alive.
To many cops and not enough accountability
I would take the LA Times any time over the Seattle Post Intelligencer (Commonly called the Pravda Intelligencer) in the last year it has run 340 stories about “corruption” in the Seattle Sheriff’s office. The focus of the stories? FOUR officers two of which were fired years ago and one who quit over two years ago and one gone nearly ten years! Even the State of Washington Journalists Association said the PI was a chancre on the body politic when the Sheriff complained. They just keep throwing up foul bile and lies, normal operations for “news” called “Times” outlets these days anywhere in the country, think NY. You think YOUR relations are cold? You don’t know cold. The PI would not know the truth if it walked up and bit them in the face but it keeps on trying to destroy the society that keeps it alive by court decree.
May 31, 2008 - 8:59 pm 13. Sulaco:Hey Sixfingers, I have the solution to your cop phobia. From now on all Cops get four weeks off a year……AT THE SAME TIME,
May 31, 2008 - 9:01 pm 14. heather:so, I went to ex liberal’s link, and gosh, does he have a great little 7 min video there, called “No Gangster Left Behind”. http://exlibhollywood.blogspot.com/
Also: The great thing about being a lefty journalist is that you can believe you are a Great Intellectual without ever learning anything!
May 31, 2008 - 10:10 pm 15. Steve:sixfingers:
I was waiting for the cop hater to show up. If you can answer me a few questions I might not believe your just another loud mouth fool.
Do you have any ideas why the cops were pulling her over?
She might acutally committed a crime that you didn’t see and was running from the cops? Not all chases are high speed.
Did you at once stop to think that maybe the cops had information that perhaps she was armed?
I doubt you did. You did what you accuse cops of doing, jumping to conclusions. Again someone running they’re mouth in a free country and thinking they’re brave.
As for the press I always love how they see themselves as the defenders of truth and of course need to hold public servants to account. Which is fine. My question is who holds the press, which is a private for profit business that is not regulated and answers to no one to account?
Jun 1, 2008 - 2:18 am 16. I.M. Copper:Hey Sixfingers that is what is called failure to yield and a vehicle pursuit. The “lady driving alone in the commuter lane” has absolutely no relevance here because nobody knows what the hell you are writing about. Stay with us, try to stay on point.
Jun 1, 2008 - 12:04 pm 17. Marc:Say, what is this “LA TImes” you guys keep talking about?
Jun 1, 2008 - 9:17 pm 18. John D:I read the LA Times, New York Times, etc for the same reason that the U.S. government read the Enigma decodes. It’s good to know what the enemy is up to.
Jun 1, 2008 - 11:37 pm 19. Michael Canzano:The Times LA and NY are pure in the sense they both are unclouded by conscience ,remorse or delusions of morality. Three foundations of humanity.
Jun 2, 2008 - 1:12 am 20. sixfingers:American Christian Infidel
You cops are all alike.
Jun 2, 2008 - 1:49 pm 21. BadLiberal:All talk and no show.
You should get an honest job. One where you can be proud of what you do.
Come on guys hold your head up high and stop your crying.
The woman was pulled over for driving in the commuter lane.
340 stories about dirty cops. That quite a total. If they did not have so much cover up they would not have the corruption. How about the cops driving under the influence. Remember Christman eve 2007 and the family that died. Good police work.
I am trying not to become a cop-hater but the “how dare you criticize me” attitude of law enforcement to any negative commentary puts me in mind of the lesser order of Latin American junta leaders. That plus the carnage of the drug wars and no-knock raids leaves me deeply suspicious of professional law enforcement.
I do not doubt the LA Times has unfairly trashed careers. Reporters, in my experience, write the story first and then get the quotes to fill in the gaps. But I also don’t doubt that the LAPD is probably a little less corrupt than Training Day or The Shield.
Jun 2, 2008 - 5:17 pm 22. Steve:sixfingers:
I am proud of what I do. No matter what a cop hater like you says.
All talk and no show.
Really? Sixfingers your the one running your mouth from behind a keyboard. I know your kind you bad mouth cops at every turn then when something happens you demand we do something or yell and scream we didn’t. So go ahead and run your mouth because that’s all your type will ever do.
Bad Liberal
Well I’m deeply suspicious of the liberal media and the left in general so I guess we’re even.
Jun 4, 2008 - 5:19 am 23. urbanleftbehind:Mr. Perrit:
If the dominant source of LA’s population growth cant be bothered to learn English, how can they even enjoy the daily pat-on-back their community receives from the LA Times? Or maybe the “ignorant” are indeed smart enough not to get sucked into such hogwash once they reach a certain point of years residing here.
Jun 4, 2008 - 8:15 am 24. BeachBum:Lived in LA since 1975. The LAPD did grow arrogant, distant and a bit rude in dealing with people–all people. I don’t know any cops BTW, and read the Times every day, but we still admire the LAPD. Its a damn tough job with fewer officers than it needs. We know OK?
I can see that the LAT gives them no breaks and frankly, no fair reporting. The Rodney King case was a sad example: they never gave a fair shake to the officers: legal periodicals covered the Simi Valley trial and the facts; even the American Lawyer came out with an article noting that perhaps the cops had been run out of town on a rail. From what I read outside the LAT, the officers got hosed. But the Times pandered to the community’s most outraged and least informed mouths, choosing to pander not provide the facts.
The Times still has the same slant: police in trouble get big print: police officer saves man from buring car might merit an inch or two. But take heart guys! You know “Dad does good job of raising Kids” get no press as against “deadbeat Dad” extravaganzas.
The weird thing it that the Times hurts LA. The “minorities hardest hit” slant convinces the rest of us that the government, ACLU or a foundation will handle it. And by convincing me that no one at the Times is interested in my problems. The “anti-police” slant convinces me that the Times is always overboard on it, so I have to internally discount what the Times says somewhat. (PS: ever hear the Times complain about suspended city or state employees getting paid while on administrative leave? No? No kidding)
LAPD should take heart: we all know the Times is slanted. We as dads, taxpayers, people that don’t have time to join noisy demonstrations, that feel our taxes being drained off to god knows what–we feel it too.
Jun 4, 2008 - 12:15 pm 25. sixfingers:Steve and the rest of the good cops?
Jun 4, 2008 - 7:27 pm 26. Steve:If you so called good cops would stop covering for the bad cops you could be proud of what you do.
You so called good are a part of the corruption and cover up.
You so called good can scream about being picked on all you want, as long as you continue to cover for the bad cops you will continue to be picked on.
Therefore there are no good cops.
Sixfingers
You bring faulty logic too a new level. Again you assume that things that you have no proof of. I wonder what do you do for a living? If anyone in your profession has ever done anything bad, like raping or stealing I can by your logic assume that you too are a rapist and thief. Go and rant all you want and spout your assumed facts your just a cop hater who hates cops no matter what they do. I also guess someone whose maybe been arrested?
Jun 4, 2008 - 9:15 pm 27. sixfingers:Steve;
That was a lot of nothing.
Jun 5, 2008 - 12:24 pm 28. Steve:Sixfingers
Strange you didn’t answer any of my questions. The silence says more about you then the answers.
Jun 6, 2008 - 2:47 am 29. sixfingers:Steve;
You are one sick trooper.
Jun 6, 2008 - 1:23 pm 30. Steve:You talk about faulty logic. You assume that I am a thief or a rapist.
I do not rant, you are the ranting.
I do not assume any of the facts. I know the truth. You should try to accept the truth, you will be a much better person for it.
I would put my record up against yours any day.
I have never been arrested. Can you makr that statement?
You have typical cop thinking. Everyone is guilty except you. Step outside the corruption and cover up, you will see the light.
sixfingers
I never said that you are a theif or rapist I said that should I judge you from what someone else in your profession does. Try reading what I actually wrote. You claim not to assume anything then declare in the same sentence you know the truth.But you assume that all cops are corrupt or cover up for the corrupt ones. Since I am currently a cop that should have told that no I’ve never been arrested. That bit of logic a little too big a leap for you? Again you’ve done nothing to disprove my view of you as a clueless cop hater who just wants to lash out at cops.
Jun 6, 2008 - 2:58 pm 31. sixfingers:Steve;
You are a typical cop.
You make excuses for kidnappers, beatings and murders. If you defend these people than you are also guilty of the same crimes.
Good-by MR. DIRTY COP!!!
Jun 7, 2008 - 7:56 am 32. Steve:sixfingers
Again when did I defend any of these things. Your the loud mouth jerk who assumes all these things because they fit your narrow world view. I guess I should be thankful that all cop haters are as foolish as you. Had enough? Hurling stupid accusations must tire even a loud mouth like you out.
Jun 7, 2008 - 12:44 pm 33. sixfingers:Steve;
Now, now control your temper.
You are sick and need help.
You are in denial. Admit that all cops are dirty.
Jun 8, 2008 - 12:17 pm 34. Steve:Corruption and cover up.
Sixfingers
You mean control it like you? Go reread your previous incoherent rants. It must be nice living in your world were you don’t need any proof of anything. O.K. I think I see you hate cops because you can’t be one so you must convince yourself that all cops are dirty so it makes you feel better.
Jun 8, 2008 - 6:18 pm 35. sixfingers:Steve;
Rant and rave all you want that does not hide the truth.
Jun 9, 2008 - 12:33 pm 36. Steve:You are still sick.
Blame everyone you want.
You are still sick.
You are still in denial.
Accept the truth, you will feel better.
Admit your crimes. The beating of innocent people. The rapes and the murders.
Good luck to you.
You need help.
sixfingers
What don’t like people assuming things about you? Well how bout some more of your own stuff. Not only are you someone who couldn’t measure up to be a cop. How many times have you seen people doing illegal things not turned them in? You know covered up for them?
Jun 9, 2008 - 7:28 pm