LAPD Beating Report Almost Done

The inspector general of the Los Angeles Police Department vowed Saturday that a thorough investigation will soon be completed of the televised beating of an alleged car thief by officers. "We have a staff of 28 and we're working diligently on it and I'm confident that we'll be able to produce the insight and analysis that the public wants," said Andre Birotte Jr., the LAPD's inspector general. Birotte was speaking to a crowd of about 30 at the weekly Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable in Leimert Park. He is charged with determining whether Officer John J. Hatfield was justified when he repeatedly hit Stanley Miller with a flashlight in Compton on June 23 following a police pursuit. Birotte declined to offer details of his findings. Some in the audience didn't see much reason to further investigate the incident since it was captured on videotape. Others wondered aloud why an officer would act so brazenly when there were clearly members of the press watching.  [more]