This is the summary of the article by Libor Jany, Staff Writer of the LA Tiems on July 8, 2004 in the California Section. For the full version of the original article, please visit https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-08/analysis-lapd-edged-weapon-shootings
LAPD’s Struggle with Officer Shootings Involving People in Crisis with Edged Weapons
Los Angeles police have spent years trying to reduce the number of shootings involving individuals in crisis who are armed with knives, machetes, or other sharp objects. Despite policies designed to minimize the use of deadly force in these situations, a recent LA Times analysis of LAPD data reveals that there have already been more shootings this year than in all of 2022, and the department is on track to surpass last year’s total of 11 shootings.
In the first half of 2024, six people experiencing a mental health or behavioral crisis while holding a sharp object were shot by officers. Four of them were killed. Overall, there have been 17 police shootings this year, many involving sharp objects. Since 2018, LAPD officers have opened fire in similar situations at least 56 times, resulting in 35 deaths and 19 injuries.
The LAPD does not track shootings of individuals in crisis separately from other incidents, but the LA Times review drew from a variety of records, including lawsuits and reports, to highlight the increase in such cases. Many police departments across the U.S., including the LAPD, have introduced guidelines prioritizing de-escalation and less-lethal alternatives to deadly force. However, recent high-profile incidents have placed renewed focus on these efforts, with critics questioning whether they are effective.
One such incident occurred in Koreatown earlier this year, where a video captured the fatal shooting of Yong Yang, a man experiencing a bipolar episode. Yang, who was holding a knife, was slowly walking toward officers in his family’s apartment when he was shot and killed.
Yang’s death, which occurred on May 2, was followed by two more fatal shootings involving sharp objects. These incidents prompted the Los Angeles Police Commission to request a review of the department’s training and policies regarding the use of force in these situations. Rasha Gerges Shields, the panel’s vice president, expressed concerns during a June meeting, emphasizing that all other options should be exhausted before lethal force is used.
Training provided to LAPD officers encourages them to use time and space to avoid confrontations where firearms might be necessary. Jonathan Wender, from the police training firm Polis Solutions, noted that some agencies teach officers to “contain” a suspect in indoor situations rather than rushing in to make an arrest. Officers are also trained to use less-lethal options, such as Tasers or beanbag shotguns, but these methods can be unpredictable, sometimes escalating the situation.
The LAPD recently acknowledged that confusion over a new state law caused officers to hesitate before using certain weapons, but policies have since been updated to clarify that 40-millimeter launchers can be used when public safety is at immediate risk.
The Times review of more than 200 LAPD shooting incidents over five years found that about 27% involved individuals in crisis wielding sharp objects, with the majority of those resulting in fatalities. In contrast, shootings involving firearms resulted in fewer deaths, with sharp-object cases proving more deadly in more than 60% of incidents.
In several tragic cases, police efforts to intervene led to the unintentional deaths of victims. For example, in 2021, an 11-year-old boy was hit by bullet fragments when officers opened fire on his mother, who was stabbing him. Another case in 2018 saw officers shoot a man holding a knife to his ex-girlfriend’s throat, killing both the suspect and the victim.
Despite efforts to prioritize mental health intervention, the use of force in these situations remains a significant issue. LAPD officers no longer rely on the “21-foot rule”—a guideline that previously indicated anyone armed with a sharp object within that distance was an immediate threat. Yet, some officers still act under the assumption that people with knives can always pose a serious danger, which leads to shootings.
Former Police Commissioner William Briggs has long advocated for more hand-to-hand combat training, which could teach officers how to disarm individuals without using lethal force. He also noted the challenge of changing long-standing police attitudes that prioritize officer safety, sometimes at the expense of effective de-escalation.
In certain cases, police shootings were found to violate departmental policy, but the shooting itself was often deemed justified, as officers explained they feared the suspect would harm others.
This is the summary of the article by Libor Jany, Staff Writer of the LA Tiems on July 8, 2004 in the California Section. For the full version of the original article, please visit https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-08/analysis-lapd-edged-weapon-shootings