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Long Beach Post Investigation

Police shooting: Long Beach is the only city in Los Angeles County whose police department almost never interviews its officers after they’ve shot someone, according to an investigation by the Long Beach Post. Instead of facing questioning by investigators, Long Beach officers write reports that higher-ups in the homicide division review and suggest areas where the officer needs to add details or clarifications, according to people familiar with the process. Police officials acknowledge this method is unorthodox, but say it yields a more complete version of events. However, two sources who have been involved in the process say it’s also used to shield the department from embarrassment and liability when the report inevitably becomes public during a lawsuit. One Long Beach Police Department employee explained why supervisors review reports: "You've got to explain this to God and country, and this sounds like an idiot wrote it.” The employee asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.
Posted inNews

Long Beach police respond to the Post’s officer-involved shooting investigation

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Dobruck Oct 17, 2018

“The fact that other agencies use different procedures does not mean our process is bad or their process is better. We should never confuse the ‘most common practice’ as being ‘the best practice,'” it said in part.

Police shooting: Long Beach is the only city in Los Angeles County whose police department almost never interviews its officers after they’ve shot someone, according to an investigation by the Long Beach Post. Instead of facing questioning by investigators, Long Beach officers write reports that higher-ups in the homicide division review and suggest areas where the officer needs to add details or clarifications, according to people familiar with the process. Police officials acknowledge this method is unorthodox, but say it yields a more complete version of events. However, two sources who have been involved in the process say it’s also used to shield the department from embarrassment and liability when the report inevitably becomes public during a lawsuit. One Long Beach Police Department employee explained why supervisors review reports: "You've got to explain this to God and country, and this sounds like an idiot wrote it.” The employee asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.
Posted inNews

3 key takeaways from the Post’s story about how Long Beach investigates police shootings

Avatar photo by Staff Reports Oct 16, 2018
Police shooting: Long Beach is the only city in Los Angeles County whose police department almost never interviews its officers after they’ve shot someone, according to an investigation by the Long Beach Post. Instead of facing questioning by investigators, Long Beach officers write reports that higher-ups in the homicide division review and suggest areas where the officer needs to add details or clarifications, according to people familiar with the process. Police officials acknowledge this method is unorthodox, but say it yields a more complete version of events. However, two sources who have been involved in the process say it’s also used to shield the department from embarrassment and liability when the report inevitably becomes public during a lawsuit. One Long Beach Police Department employee explained why supervisors review reports: "You've got to explain this to God and country, and this sounds like an idiot wrote it.” The employee asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.
Posted inNews

‘It can easily be perceived as a cover-up:’ Long Beach’s ‘odd’ way of handling police shootings

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Dobruck Oct 16, 2018Aug 3, 2020
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