Muslim-American community leaders meet with LAPD to discuss concerns about Abdul Arian shooting incident Special meeting held on Sunday, April 15th, at the Islamic Center of Reseda

Los Angeles:  On Sunday, April 15, 2012, leaders of the Los Angeles area Muslim American community met with high-ranking officials of the Los Angeles Police Department to discuss concerns about the Officer Involved Shooting that occurred on Wednesday, April 11th on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley.  During the incident, 19-year-old Abdul Arian was shot and killed by LAPD officers following a vehicle pursuit.

The community leaders present included Mr. Salam Al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Community Affairs Council, Mr. Aref Abedi, Director, Islamic Center of Reseda, along with other Muslim American community leaders.  The group expressed questions and concerns about the LAPD pursuit policy, the use of force policy, and the extent and type of oversight of the LAPD regarding use of force incidents.

The LAPD provided information about the pursuit policy. In addition, the LAPD clarified the review process for Officer Involved Shootings.  It was noted that the Los Angeles Police Commission, a civilian board appointed by the Mayor, provides civilian oversight to the LAPD.  In addition, the independent Inspector General, working under the authority of the Police Commission, reviews Officer Involved Shootings and makes independent recommendations to the Police Commission.  Finally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office independently reviews all LAPD shootings.

The LAPD explained how the Officer Involved Shooting investigations are conducted.  The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division responded to the incident and began a thorough investigation of the shooting and all related crimes.   That investigation may take months to complete, as it is extremely thorough and meticulous, with every shot fired being accounted for, reviewed and analyzed.  In fact, the LAPD’s Officer Involved Shooting investigations are the most through and comprehensive shooting investigations done in the United States.  

The Officer Involved Shooting investigation protocol used by the LAPD has been reviewed and approved by the Federal Monitor, a Federal Judge, while the LAPD was under a Federal Consent Decree.

The completed investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy which states that an officer’s use-of-force actions must be objectively reasonable.  

More information is available by contacting Commander Andrew Smith, Media Relations and Community Affairs Group at 213-486-5900.

Comments

[Kevin Santa Cruz]

This was a waste of LAPD time and resources. When this criminal used his vehicle as a weapon and what looked like a gun to me deserved to get shot. Also when the LAPD shot this criminal they didn't know what race he was. The Muslim community are the real racist in this incident.

[J. Delapaz]

I feel sorry for his family but They have to realize that he was a criminal and the message is clear if somebody has the guts to threat the police, He would do it to any inocent victim as well. His error was to play with his life.The police did the rigth action and is called self defense

[Jim]

This kid was the ONLY person at fault for his demise! Shame on his family and on the muslim "leaders" who are turning this into something it was not. Lets go Deputy Chief Downing, it's time to go defend the actions of the police officers to your friends over there at the mosques in the valley. Everyone knows how close you are with them.

[Dominic Carabello]

LAPD owes NOBODY an apology for what was clearly a case of 'suicide by cop'. Arian could easily pass for Hispanic/Latino, so there is no way his ethnicity or religion could have possibly have been a factor.

Salam Al-Marayati is a well-documented shakedown artist, always seeking to advance his Islamist political agenda at the expense of law enforcement or anyone else who provides a convenient target.

LAPD brass need to STAND BEHIND its officers in this case and DEFEND the necessary actions they took in dealing with this clearly unhinged assailant.

Anyone questioning the wisdom of LAPD officers needs to go to KTLA.com and view the interview with a young couple who were trapped in their car by Arian's brazen actions of reckless endangerment. They PRAISE the LAPD for protecting their LIVES from this deranged individual.