latimes--2020-07-26--Column: They're fed up with the 'tyranny' of face masks. But Portland? That's about 'law and order'

If there ’ s one thing I had hoped most Californians could agree on , it ’ s that federal agents snatching American citizens off the streets , throwing them into unmarked vehicles , taking them to undisclosed locations for interrogation and then releasing them without an explanation is a bad thing .
In particular , I thought that maybe — just maybe — the most conservative of Republicans , who are constantly on guard for some unwelcome overreach by government , would be like-minded about this .
But no .
That ’ s not where we are in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conspiracy theorists to concerned parents and understandably irked business owners — gathered Saturday in the midday Sacramento heat to gripe about Gov .
Gavin Newsom .
It was dubbed the “ United We Stand ” rally , and indeed those who attended were pretty united in their grievances about the state ’ s inconsistent and often unclear response to COVID-19 .
They ticked off Newsom ’ s worst offenses : Ordering schools and retailers to close and then reopen and then close again .
Shutting down churches and banning singing .
Forcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces after initially swearing , like public health officials did , that no one needed masks .
“ There ’ s too much government control , ” summed up Donna Hogue , a business owner from Granite Bay .
“ There ’ s too much overreach by the governor .
The masks .
All of it.
” And speaking of tyranny , apparently what has been happening in Portland , Ore. , for the past few weeks isn ’ t it .
Never mind the mysterious federal agents gassing and shooting flash grenades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stories abound about people who have been detained by agents who refused to give their names .
There have been beatings , too , including of a protester who suffered a skull fracture after an agent hit him in the face with a projectile .
Ostensibly , President Trump sent the agents there to protect a federal courthouse , which has been under siege to one degree or another since a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd , setting off a national reckoning on racial injustice .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas and protesters tossing fireworks have been fought blocks away from the courthouse , raising questions about whether Trump is trying to drum up made-for-TV violence .
And indeed , a new round of protests exploded over the weekend , with residents of Los Angeles , Seattle , Baltimore and several other cities taking to the streets over the presence of federal agents .
Several legal challenges are winding their way through the courts , and investigations are underway .
In the meantime , there ’ s no doubt that what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if Trump is to be believed , on the streets of Oakland — is a clear example of government overreach .
And yet , when I brought this up in Sacramento , Hogue wasn ’ t convinced .
“ What gives people the right to riot for 53 days in a row ?
” she asked .
That ’ s a bit of an exaggeration , I told her , but nonetheless a fair point .
Susan Potter , a business owner from Sacramento , chimed in .
“ There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said , nodding at Hogue .
Also a fair point .
But , I asked , what about the federal agents abducting people without giving their names ?
And the interrogations ?
Isn ’ t that government overreach ?
Hogue shook her head .
“ They ’ re arresting for probable cause .
They ’ re booking them .
They ’ re letting them go , ” she said .
“ I also think it ’ s sending a good message , ” said Dan Beck , of the Sacramento suburb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried about his kids not being able to attend school in the fall .
“ As they ’ re getting released , they ’ re going , ‘ OK , now I ’ ve been charged with a federal crime .
And maybe I should go back to my apartment and play Xbox.
” Bottom line , Hogue said , she just trusts federal agents , who are merely doing their duty to protect federal property that was paid for by taxpayers .
“ No one ’ s being mean .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ You know , it ’ s just what the law does .
A lot has to do with law and order .
That ’ s why those two words go together.
” I ’ ve heard similar things from others in recent days , as I ’ ve traveled through some of the more conservative swaths of California .
The cognitive dissonance is disheartening yet somehow also predictable .
Whether they know it or not , many people are parroting Trump .
Badly lagging in the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nears , the president has been desperate to create a distraction from his administration ’ s abysmal handling of the COVID-19 pandemic .
So he has doubled down on selling himself as the “ law and order ” commander in chief , arguing that a crackdown of the sort that ’ s happening in Portland is needed in “ out of control ” Democrat-led cities — at any cost .
But what is any cost ?
What does it say when liberals like me can ’ t even find common ground about federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with someone who is carrying a “ Don ’ t Tread on Me ” flag , or with someone who nods appreciatively at a sign that says “ Government is the root of our problems ” ?
I didn ’ t see a single federal agent in camouflage or riot gear guarding the many federal buildings near the Capitol on Saturday .
But if they had been there , and if they had gone after protesters in the same aggressive manner that they have in Portland , I have to believe that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their minds .

Most of the people at Saturday’s United We Stand rally at the state Capitol in Sacramento came to denounce Gov. Gavin Newsom’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
If there’s one thing I had hoped most Californians could agree on, it’s that federal agents snatching American citizens off the streets, throwing them into unmarked vehicles, taking them to undisclosed locations for interrogation and then releasing them without an explanation is a bad thing.
In particular, I thought that maybe — just maybe — the most conservative of Republicans, who are constantly on guard for some unwelcome overreach by government, would be like-minded about this.
But no. That’s not where we are in 2020.
Hundreds of people — from anti-vaxxers to conspiracy theorists to concerned parents and understandably irked business owners — gathered Saturday in the midday Sacramento heat to gripe about Gov. Gavin Newsom. It was dubbed the “United We Stand” rally, and indeed those who attended were pretty united in their grievances about the state’s inconsistent and often unclear response to COVID-19.
They ticked off Newsom’s worst offenses: Ordering schools and retailers to close and then reopen and then close again. Shutting down churches and banning singing. Forcing everyone in the state to cover their faces after initially swearing, like public health officials did, that no one needed masks.
“There’s too much government control,” summed up Donna Hogue, a business owner from Granite Bay. “There’s too much overreach by the governor. The masks. All of it.”
Advertisement
The tyranny.
Donna Hogue, a business owner from Granite Bay, holds a sign expressing her views on face masks Saturday at the United We Stand rally in Sacramento. (Erika D. Smith / Los Angeles Times)
And speaking of tyranny, apparently what has been happening in Portland, Ore., for the past few weeks isn’t it. Never mind the mysterious federal agents gassing and shooting flash grenades at Black Lives Matter protesters every night.
Stories abound about people who have been detained by agents who refused to give their names. There have been beatings, too, including of a protester who suffered a skull fracture after an agent hit him in the face with a projectile.
Ostensibly, President Trump sent the agents there to protect a federal courthouse, which has been under siege to one degree or another since a Minneapolis police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd, setting off a national reckoning on racial injustice.
But increasingly intense battles between agents lobbing chemical gas and protesters tossing fireworks have been fought blocks away from the courthouse, raising questions about whether Trump is trying to drum up made-for-TV violence. And indeed, a new round of protests exploded over the weekend, with residents of Los Angeles, Seattle, Baltimore and several other cities taking to the streets over the presence of federal agents.
Several legal challenges are winding their way through the courts, and investigations are underway. In the meantime, there’s no doubt that what’s happening in downtown Portland — and soon, if Trump is to be believed, on the streets of Oakland — is a clear example of government overreach.
Advertisement
And yet, when I brought this up in Sacramento, Hogue wasn’t convinced.
“What gives people the right to riot for 53 days in a row?” she asked.
That’s a bit of an exaggeration, I told her, but nonetheless a fair point.
Susan Potter, a business owner from Sacramento, chimed in. “There’s got to be a line somewhere,” she said, nodding at Hogue. Also a fair point.
But, I asked, what about the federal agents abducting people without giving their names? And the interrogations? Isn’t that government overreach?
Hogue shook her head. “They’re arresting for probable cause. They’re booking them. They’re letting them go,” she said.
(This isn’t entirely accurate, but moving on.)
“I also think it’s sending a good message,” said Dan Beck, of the Sacramento suburb of Roseville, where he’s worried about his kids not being able to attend school in the fall. “As they’re getting released, they’re going, ‘OK, now I’ve been charged with a federal crime. And maybe I should go back to my apartment and play Xbox.”
Bottom line, Hogue said, she just trusts federal agents, who are merely doing their duty to protect federal property that was paid for by taxpayers.
“No one’s being mean. It’s not like they’re disappearing,” she said. “You know, it’s just what the law does. A lot has to do with law and order. That’s why those two words go together.”
Hundreds of people — from anti-vaxxers to conspiracy theorists to concerned parents and understandably irked business owners — gathered Saturday in the midday Sacramento heat to gripe about Gov. Gavin Newsom. (Erika D. Smith / Los Angeles Times)
I’ve heard similar things from others in recent days, as I’ve traveled through some of the more conservative swaths of California. The cognitive dissonance is disheartening yet somehow also predictable.
Whether they know it or not, many people are parroting Trump. Badly lagging in the polls and trailing Joe Biden as the election nears, the president has been desperate to create a distraction from his administration’s abysmal handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. So he has doubled down on selling himself as the “law and order” commander in chief, arguing that a crackdown of the sort that’s happening in Portland is needed in “out of control” Democrat-led cities — at any cost.
But what is any cost?
What does it say when liberals like me can’t even find common ground about federal agents violating people’s civil rights with someone who is carrying a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, or with someone who nods appreciatively at a sign that says “Government is the root of our problems”?
I didn’t see a single federal agent in camouflage or riot gear guarding the many federal buildings near the Capitol on Saturday. But if they had been there, and if they had gone after protesters in the same aggressive manner that they have in Portland, I have to believe that the hundreds in attendance would’ve changed their minds.
Real tyranny shouldn’t be partisan.


latimes--2020-07-26--Los Angeles firefighter dies from complications of COVID-19

A Los Angeles firefighter died Saturday from complications of COVID-19 , the first in the department to die from the disease , fire officials said .
Firefighter-paramedic Jose J. Perez was 44 and had been with the LAFD for more than 16 years , officials said .
Perez is survived by his wife and three children .
“ Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas and the entire department send their deepest and most sincere condolences to the Perez family , ” a department statement said .
From March through Friday , 145 LAFD employees had tested positive for COVID-19 , with 108 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovering at home .
On Friday , a Los Angeles police officer died of the illness caused by the coronavirus , the first sworn officer in the city to succumb during the deadly pandemic , the department reported .
Officer Valentin Martinez , 45 , worked patrol and was presumed to have contracted the virus while on duty , said LAPD Chief Michel Moore .
Martinez had been on the force for 13 years .
Compounding the grief of Martinez ’ s family and his co-workers is that Martinez ’ s domestic partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Moore said .

A Los Angeles firefighter died Saturday from complications of COVID-19, the first in the department to die from the disease, fire officials said.
Firefighter-paramedic Jose J. Perez was 44 and had been with the LAFD for more than 16 years, officials said.
Perez is survived by his wife and three children.
With profound sadness we announce death of Firefighter III/Paramedic Jose M. Perez, from complications of COVID-19 on 7.25.2020 He was a 16.5 yr veteran He is survived by his wife and 3 children Chief Terrazas & entire LAFD send deepest & most sincere condolences to Perez family. pic.twitter.com/Ed7V83UxXL — LAFD Talk (@LAFDtalk) July 26, 2020
“Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas and the entire department send their deepest and most sincere condolences to the Perez family,” a department statement said.
Advertisement
From March through Friday, 145 LAFD employees had tested positive for COVID-19, with 108 recovered and back at work and 36 recovering at home.
On Friday, a Los Angeles police officer died of the illness caused by the coronavirus, the first sworn officer in the city to succumb during the deadly pandemic, the department reported.
Officer Valentin Martinez, 45, worked patrol and was presumed to have contracted the virus while on duty, said LAPD Chief Michel Moore. Martinez had been on the force for 13 years.
Compounding the grief of Martinez’s family and his co-workers is that Martinez’s domestic partner is 20 weeks pregnant with twin boys, Moore said.
Times staff writer James Queally contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-07-26--Los Angeles police declare tactical alert in response to protests downtown

Los Angeles police issued a citywide tactical alert Saturday night in response to protests downtown , a move that allows the department to have more officers and resources available .
Sgt .
Anthony Costello said that there had not been any major problems with the majority of the crowd but that there were some isolated incidents of vandalism , including some broken windows and graffiti at the U.S .
Courthouse downtown .
Video posted on social media showed police in riot gear facing off with what appeared to be dozens of protesters in front of City Hall .
Some in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Black lives matter ” and “ No justice , no peace.
” There were some arrests , including at least one for vandalism , Costello said .
But he did not know the total number of arrests .
“ It ’ s not the whole group that ’ s doing it , ” he said .
“ It ’ s isolated individuals.
” By 9:30 p.m. , the protesters had mostly dispersed .
According to several media reports , demonstrators organized the protests in response to federal agents being sent to Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests that began two months ago following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police .
President Trump said he sent federal agents to Oregon ’ s largest city to halt the unrest , but state and local officials say they are only inflaming tensions in the community .

Protesters link arms and face off against the LAPD in front of L.A. City Hall during a Refuse Fascism demonstration on Saturday.
Los Angeles police issued a citywide tactical alert Saturday night in response to protests downtown, a move that allows the department to have more officers and resources available.
Sgt. Anthony Costello said that there had not been any major problems with the majority of the crowd but that there were some isolated incidents of vandalism, including some broken windows and graffiti at the U.S. Courthouse downtown.
Video posted on social media showed police in riot gear facing off with what appeared to be dozens of protesters in front of City Hall. Some in the crowd waved signs and chanted, “Black lives matter” and “No justice, no peace.”
Advertisement
There were some arrests, including at least one for vandalism, Costello said. But he did not know the total number of arrests.
“It’s not the whole group that’s doing it,” he said. “It’s isolated individuals.”
By 9:30 p.m., the protesters had mostly dispersed.
According to several media reports, demonstrators organized the protests in response to federal agents being sent to Portland, Ore., to put down nightly protests that began two months ago following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
President Trump said he sent federal agents to Oregon’s largest city to halt the unrest, but state and local officials say they are only inflaming tensions in the community.
A protester confronts police officers during a Refuse Fascism demonstration in downtown Los Angeles Saturday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)


latimes--2020-07-25--L.A. County reports more than 3,600 new coronavirus cases and 53 related deaths

Los Angeles County health officials on Saturday reported 3,628 new COVID-19 cases and 53 related deaths , high numbers that in part reflect reporting delays in the state ’ s electronic laboratory system .
The total number of cases in the county now stands at 172,325 , with a cumulative 4,351 deaths , officials said in a statement .
There have been 446,148 confirmed cases in California , and 8,406 people have died statewide .
The majority of new positive cases in L.A. County are occurring in people under the age of 50 , officials said .
Also Saturday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county hospitals , with 30 % of those in intensive care .
But they said those figures were incomplete because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had changed reporting requirements , resulting in data from eight hospitals being left out .
As the surge in cases continues , health officials have increased their efforts to persuade people to take steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus , including wearing masks , avoiding gatherings and adhering to social distancing .
The county has ordered the closure of indoor operations at restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ museums , hair salons , barbershops and personal care services .
“ I know these are frustrating times and that we want life to return to normal .
We want to join our friends for dinner inside a restaurant and gather with extended family for a summer barbecue , ” said L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer .
“ Unfortunately , we just are not at a point where those activities are safe.
” On Friday , Dr. Deborah Birx , the White House ’ s coronavirus response coordinator , likened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Texas and Florida to “ three New Yorks , ” referring to the previous epicenter of the nation ’ s COVID-19 crisis .
She said the increase has been driven by people in their 20s and 30s who didn ’ t have symptoms and were unknowingly spreading the virus .
Brix , who spoke in an interview on NBC ’ s “ Today , ” also indicated that there may be signs that the virus is plateauing in those three states , along with Arizona , which has also seen a high @ @ @ @

An EMT delivers a COVID-19 testing kit to drivers at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County health officials on Saturday reported 3,628 new COVID-19 cases and 53 related deaths, high numbers that in part reflect reporting delays in the state’s electronic laboratory system.
The total number of cases in the county now stands at 172,325, with a cumulative 4,351 deaths, officials said in a statement. There have been 446,148 confirmed cases in California, and 8,406 people have died statewide.
The majority of new positive cases in L.A. County are occurring in people under the age of 50, officials said.
Advertisement
Also Saturday, officials reported 2,016 confirmed COVID-19 patients in county hospitals, with 30% of those in intensive care. But they said those figures were incomplete because the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had changed reporting requirements, resulting in data from eight hospitals being left out.
As the surge in cases continues, health officials have increased their efforts to persuade people to take steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including wearing masks, avoiding gatherings and adhering to social distancing. The county has ordered the closure of indoor operations at restaurants, houses of worship, gyms, museums, hair salons, barbershops and personal care services.
“I know these are frustrating times and that we want life to return to normal. We want to join our friends for dinner inside a restaurant and gather with extended family for a summer barbecue,” said L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer. “Unfortunately, we just are not at a point where those activities are safe.”
On Friday, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, likened the current surge in cases in California, Texas and Florida to “three New Yorks,” referring to the previous epicenter of the nation’s COVID-19 crisis.
She said the increase has been driven by people in their 20s and 30s who didn’t have symptoms and were unknowingly spreading the virus.
Advertisement


latimes--2020-07-25--Coronavirus cases seep into the ranks of Newport Beach first responders

The Newport Beach Fire Department is feeling the effect of the coronavirus among its own ranks .
Ten firefighters and 11 lifeguards had tested positive for the virus , Fire Chief Jeff Boyles confirmed Friday .
Boyles said the virus apparently broke through to his crews through community spread and not while directly treating coronavirus patients .
He said all fire stations and trucks remain staffed , and cleaning protocols have been tweaked .
Newport Beach Fire is not sending crews to out-of-county wildland fires .
“ We have been very vigilant when we go on calls with what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have lives outside of work , ” Boyles told the City Council at its last meeting on July 14 .
An additional 30 firefighters and 21 lifeguards have quarantined at some point in July , Boyles said Friday .
Going into this weekend , 11 lifeguards — four positive and seven in quarantine — were off duty .
Four firefighters — all recovering after testing positive , none left in quarantine — were away from work .
“ Fortunately , not all of them were off at the same time so we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fire stations , lifeguard towers and junior lifeguard program , ” Boyles said .
“ It was a balancing act for a small window of time in order to accomplish that.
” Overall , Orange County reported more than 33,900 coronavirus cases and 560 related deaths as of Saturday , with 685 COVID-19 patients in county hospitals .
Coronavirus among the county ’ s lifeguard ranks was a key part of Newport ’ s decision to make the unprecedented decision to close beaches on the Fourth of July , historically the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the holiday , two lifeguards had tested positive and more than 20 were being quarantined .
Fire and lifeguard officials said they had enough staff for the big weekend , but a cautious City Council voted for the hard closure to keep the remaining guards from having to do more with less .
Boyles said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and county health officials say first responders can work until they are symptomatic if they have been exposed , but Newport has been aggressive with its contact tracing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tested positive were already identified as exposed and were in quarantine when their test results came back positive , ” Boyles said .
“ That tells us that we theoretically prevented them from working and causing an even greater outbreak.
” The infected individuals come from a corps of about 120 firefighters , 50 lifeguard reservists , 55 junior guards and 95 in lifeguard operations .

A city lifeguard keeps an eye on the few visitors to the beach next to the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach on May 6.
The Newport Beach Fire Department is feeling the effect of the coronavirus among its own ranks.
Ten firefighters and 11 lifeguards had tested positive for the virus, Fire Chief Jeff Boyles confirmed Friday.
Boyles said the virus apparently broke through to his crews through community spread and not while directly treating coronavirus patients. He said all fire stations and trucks remain staffed, and cleaning protocols have been tweaked. Newport Beach Fire is not sending crews to out-of-county wildland fires.
“We have been very vigilant when we go on calls with what we know to be sick people, but people have lives outside of work,” Boyles told the City Council at its last meeting on July 14.
Advertisement
An additional 30 firefighters and 21 lifeguards have quarantined at some point in July, Boyles said Friday. Going into this weekend, 11 lifeguards — four positive and seven in quarantine — were off duty. Four firefighters — all recovering after testing positive, none left in quarantine — were away from work.
“Fortunately, not all of them were off at the same time so we were able to maintain our staffing levels in the fire stations, lifeguard towers and junior lifeguard program,” Boyles said. “It was a balancing act for a small window of time in order to accomplish that.”
Overall, Orange County reported more than 33,900 coronavirus cases and 560 related deaths as of Saturday, with 685 COVID-19 patients in county hospitals.
Coronavirus among the county’s lifeguard ranks was a key part of Newport’s decision to make the unprecedented decision to close beaches on the Fourth of July , historically the summer peak for visitors. Leading up to the holiday, two lifeguards had tested positive and more than 20 were being quarantined.
Fire and lifeguard officials said they had enough staff for the big weekend, but a cautious City Council voted for the hard closure to keep the remaining guards from having to do more with less.
Boyles said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and county health officials say first responders can work until they are symptomatic if they have been exposed, but Newport has been aggressive with its contact tracing and quarantining.
Advertisement
“The majority of those who tested positive were already identified as exposed and were in quarantine when their test results came back positive,” Boyles said. “That tells us that we theoretically prevented them from working and causing an even greater outbreak.”
The infected individuals come from a corps of about 120 firefighters, 50 lifeguard reservists, 55 junior guards and 95 in lifeguard operations.


latimes--2020-07-25--Firefighters gain ground on Lassen County blazes

Firefighters are gaining ground against two wildfires that have burned more than 30,000 acres in Lassen County , northeast of Sacramento .
The Gold fire , which started south of Adin , is 40 % contained as it continues to threaten homes and ranches as well as agriculture , livestock and timber operations , Cal Fire officials said in an update Saturday morning .
After burning for four days , the fire has chewed through 21,000 acres , destroyed seven homes and sent two firefighters to the hospital .
Overnight , firefighters took advantage of milder conditions to build and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and low humidity are expected through Saturday .
West of Susanville , a smaller fire known as the Hog fire has destroyed two structures and consumed about 10,000 acres .
The fire settled down overnight as firefighters worked to mop up and strengthen control lines , according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .
By Saturday morning , it was 45 % contained and had been burning for six days .
In the daytime heat , with temperatures above 90 degrees in the Susanville area , smoldering patches were at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents are being allowed to return to their homes , some areas in both fire zones remain under mandatory evacuation orders .
The two firefighters injured in the Gold fire have been released from the hospital .

Smoke rises from the Hog fire west of Susanville in Lassen County.
Firefighters are gaining ground against two wildfires that have burned more than 30,000 acres in Lassen County, northeast of Sacramento.
The Gold fire, which started south of Adin, is 40% contained as it continues to threaten homes and ranches as well as agriculture, livestock and timber operations, Cal Fire officials said in an update Saturday morning.
After burning for four days, the fire has chewed through 21,000 acres, destroyed seven homes and sent two firefighters to the hospital.
Advertisement
Overnight, firefighters took advantage of milder conditions to build and reinforce control lines. But gusty winds and low humidity are expected through Saturday.
West of Susanville, a smaller fire known as the Hog fire has destroyed two structures and consumed about 10,000 acres.
The fire settled down overnight as firefighters worked to mop up and strengthen control lines, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. By Saturday morning, it was 45% contained and had been burning for six days.
In the daytime heat, with temperatures above 90 degrees in the Susanville area, smoldering patches were at risk of flaring up.
While some residents are being allowed to return to their homes, some areas in both fire zones remain under mandatory evacuation orders. The two firefighters injured in the Gold fire have been released from the hospital.


latimes--2020-07-25--Large outdoor religious gathering draws ire of officials in Redding

Minister and musician Sean Feucht urged his fellow Christians to join him under the Sundial Bridge in Redding for a night of worship .
“ Bring a mask ( we ’ ll have some if you need ) .
Spread out .
Let ’ s worship Jesus and love on our city !
” he said on Twitter .
But videos of the July 22 gathering show people crowded together with no masks , waving their hands in the air and singing songs of praise .
That prompted a stern reprimand from the Shasta County Health & Human Services Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should get tested for the coronavirus and self-quarantine for 14 days .
“ We truly empathize with all who have had to change the way they worship in the past few months , ” the agency said in a news release .
“ Very sadly , some of our local cases of COVID-19 , including hospitalizations , have resulted from faith gatherings , and it ’ s critical that our faith community leaders continue to offer safe services that follow the state guidelines.
” Outdoor religious gatherings are permitted in the county , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least six feet apart from those outside of their households .
The health agency noted in its statement that “ there was much physical touching ” at the event , and the crowd was too large to fit in the area around the bridge while maintaining social distancing .
As of Friday , Shasta County had 291 confirmed coronavirus cases , with five people hospitalized and eight dead from the virus .
The health agency ’ s news release pointed out that people have had to give up graduations , weddings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It warned that if the county ends up on the state ’ s watch list , children will not be able to attend school in person , and businesses and churches will face tighter restrictions .
Feucht , who could not be reached for comment , is holding “ Let Us Worship ” events around the country , including in Pasadena and Bakersfield earlier this week and Arkansas , Oklahoma and Texas in the coming weeks .
A flier for one of the events , in San Diego on Sunday , urges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and practice social distancing between households.
” In a video filmed Friday before the Bakersfield event , Feucht appeared in a park with the city ’ s mayor , Karen Goh .
“ We ’ re socially distanced , we want to follow the guidelines , we want to worship , ” he said .
Pasadena police did not receive any calls about the gathering at 400 W. Claremont St. on Thursday evening , said Lt. Marcia Taglioretti .
Officers are not making arrests for social distancing or mask violations , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirements , she said .
In a video on Feucht ’ s Twitter page , labeled “ Let Us Worship — Live — Pasadena , ” Feucht plays the guitar , accompanied by a drummer .
The crowd , closely packed and maskless , sings : “ He ’ s got the whole world in his hands .
”

The Sun Dial Bridge is seen from the Sacramento River in Redding, Calif.
Minister and musician Sean Feucht urged his fellow Christians to join him under the Sundial Bridge in Redding for a night of worship.
“Bring a mask (we’ll have some if you need). Spread out. Let’s worship Jesus and love on our city!” he said on Twitter.
But videos of the July 22 gathering show people crowded together with no masks, waving their hands in the air and singing songs of praise.
Advertisement
That prompted a stern reprimand from the Shasta County Health & Human Services Agency, which recommended that anyone who attended should get tested for the coronavirus and self-quarantine for 14 days.
“We truly empathize with all who have had to change the way they worship in the past few months,” the agency said in a news release. “Very sadly, some of our local cases of COVID-19, including hospitalizations, have resulted from faith gatherings, and it’s critical that our faith community leaders continue to offer safe services that follow the state guidelines.”
Outdoor religious gatherings are permitted in the county, provided that people wear masks and keep at least six feet apart from those outside of their households.
The health agency noted in its statement that “there was much physical touching” at the event, and the crowd was too large to fit in the area around the bridge while maintaining social distancing.
As of Friday, Shasta County had 291 confirmed coronavirus cases, with five people hospitalized and eight dead from the virus.
The health agency’s news release pointed out that people have had to give up graduations, weddings and beloved community events like the Redding Rodeo. It warned that if the county ends up on the state’s watch list, children will not be able to attend school in person, and businesses and churches will face tighter restrictions.
Feucht, who could not be reached for comment, is holding “Let Us Worship” events around the country, including in Pasadena and Bakersfield earlier this week and Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas in the coming weeks.
Advertisement
A flier for one of the events, in San Diego on Sunday, urges attendees to “Please bring a mask and practice social distancing between households.”
In a video filmed Friday before the Bakersfield event, Feucht appeared in a park with the city’s mayor, Karen Goh.
“We’re socially distanced, we want to follow the guidelines, we want to worship,” he said.
Pasadena police did not receive any calls about the gathering at 400 W. Claremont St. on Thursday evening, said Lt. Marcia Taglioretti.
Officers are not making arrests for social distancing or mask violations, but they attempt to educate the public about the requirements, she said.
In a video on Feucht’s Twitter page, labeled “Let Us Worship — Live — Pasadena,” Feucht plays the guitar, accompanied by a drummer.
The crowd, closely packed and maskless, sings: “He’s got the whole world in his hands.”


latimes--2020-07-25--A boy walks to a corner store and is shot in the chest. 'I don't think we could ever heal'

The evening of July 3 , Otis Rayjon Williams left his family ’ s apartment in the Florence-Firestone area , headed for the store on the corner of Central Avenue and Century Boulevard .
His mother presumes that Otis , 14 , took a shortcut through an alley , because that was where the police found him , fatally shot in the chest .
Otis was not a gang member , and Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s detectives have yet to identify any suspects or a motive , Lt. Derrick Alfred said last week .
The boy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent week in South Los Angeles .
Deshan Lamar Washington , 43 , died the same day as Otis , a Friday , shot in the Imperial Courts housing project .
That Wednesday , July 1 , Joel Vargas , 43 , shot to death his 4- and 6-year-old daughters in Watts before turning the gun on himself .
A day earlier , Derek Wilson , 61 , was parked on West 107th Street in Westmont , smoking a cigarette , when a man walked up to his car and shot him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fatally shot the same day in Leimert Park .
Despite the week ’ s bloodshed , homicides in areas under the sheriff ’ s jurisdiction have remained stable : 100 this year compared with 98 at the same time last year .
The Los Angeles Police Department has seen a 14 % increase in homicides this year , according to department figures .
The killing of a 14-year-old boy , particularly one with no apparent gang ties , is disturbing , Otis ’ family and residents say .
They wonder what , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done to whoever killed him .
“ It used to be you could say , ‘ I don ’ t do that , I don ’ t gang bang , ’ and they ’ d leave you alone , ” said his father , who is also named Otis Williams .
“ I guess it ’ s not that way anymore.
” Otis was tall for his age , having hit a growth spurt when he turned 13 .
He was growing so fast , his father joked they had threatened to cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished junior high and would have started high school in the fall .
He wasn ’ t particularly looking forward to it .
“ He didn ’ t like school , I ’ m not going to tell no lies , ” his mother , Francine Brazil , said in an interview .
Like most kids his age , he chafed at curfews and pushed his parents ’ limits .
“ If I said , ‘ Come home at 10 , ’ he ’ d come home at 12 , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Florence-Firestone area about one year ago , to a first-floor apartment in a white stucco building on South Central Avenue .
He didn ’ t know too many kids in the area , his mother said , and he often took the Metro to Norwalk , where they ’ d lived previously , to see his best friend .
Wayne Simpson , 68 , lived two doors down from Otis .
The boy was always courteous , Simpson said .
He ’ d call Simpson ’ s wife “ ma ’ am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bins to the curb , and when he was headed to the corner store , he ’ d ask if they wanted a soda , Simpson recalled .
“ He was a very , very respectful guy , ” Simpson said .
“ He didn ’ t bother nobody , as far as I know.
” Otis was on his way to the store the night he died .
It was a warm night and a short walk , just a couple of blocks , but his mother handed him a thermal on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put on headphones and turned on Netflix .
She never heard the gunshots .
Close to 9 p.m. , neighbors knocked on her door .
There was a body in an alley , surrounded by police and paramedics , and they had recognized the Nike sneakers that Otis kept bright white .
He was rushed to St. Francis Medical Center .
The hospital staff guided his parents to “ that little room , with the couches like in the movies , ” Brazil said , and a surgeon came in to affirm what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff ’ s lieutenant , said detectives have recovered video showing Otis walking in an alley between East 98th and East 99th streets , parallel to South Central Avenue .
A car pulled up and someone inside it opened fire , he said .
Brazil hopes that someone will come forward with information about who killed her son .
“ People talk , ” she said .
“ People brag.
” The day after Otis died , his mother and father walked to the alley .
They cleaned up his blood , picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had discarded , set up some candles and flowers .
Then , they gathered up their things and moved in with Otis ’ older sister in Palmdale , an hour ’ s drive north of Los Angeles .
“ Seeing that every day , ” Brazil said of the alley , “ I don ’ t think we could ever heal.
” The Sheriff ’ s Department has asked anyone with knowledge of Otis ’ killing to call the homicide bureau at ( 323 ) 890-5500 .

The evening of July 3, Otis Rayjon Williams left his family’s apartment in the Florence-Firestone area, headed for the store on the corner of Central Avenue and Century Boulevard.
His mother presumes that Otis, 14, took a shortcut through an alley, because that was where the police found him, fatally shot in the chest.
Otis was not a gang member, and Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives have yet to identify any suspects or a motive, Lt. Derrick Alfred said last week.
Advertisement
The boy’s killing came at the end of a violent week in South Los Angeles. Deshan Lamar Washington, 43, died the same day as Otis, a Friday, shot in the Imperial Courts housing project.
That Wednesday, July 1, Joel Vargas, 43, shot to death his 4- and 6-year-old daughters in Watts before turning the gun on himself.
A day earlier, Derek Wilson, 61, was parked on West 107th Street in Westmont, smoking a cigarette, when a man walked up to his car and shot him to death. Takiem Baxter, 25, was fatally shot the same day in Leimert Park.
Despite the week’s bloodshed, homicides in areas under the sheriff’s jurisdiction have remained stable: 100 this year compared with 98 at the same time last year. The Los Angeles Police Department has seen a 14% increase in homicides this year, according to department figures.
The killing of a 14-year-old boy, particularly one with no apparent gang ties, is disturbing, Otis’ family and residents say. They wonder what, if anything, Otis had said or done to whoever killed him.
“It used to be you could say, ‘I don’t do that, I don’t gang bang,’ and they’d leave you alone,” said his father, who is also named Otis Williams. “I guess it’s not that way anymore.”
Advertisement
Otis was tall for his age, having hit a growth spurt when he turned 13. He was growing so fast, his father joked they had threatened to cut off his milk supply. Otis had finished junior high and would have started high school in the fall. He wasn’t particularly looking forward to it.
“He didn’t like school, I’m not going to tell no lies,” his mother, Francine Brazil, said in an interview. Like most kids his age, he chafed at curfews and pushed his parents’ limits.
“If I said, ‘Come home at 10,’ he’d come home at 12,” she said.
Otis and his family moved to the Florence-Firestone area about one year ago, to a first-floor apartment in a white stucco building on South Central Avenue. He didn’t know too many kids in the area, his mother said, and he often took the Metro to Norwalk, where they’d lived previously, to see his best friend.
Wayne Simpson, 68, lived two doors down from Otis. The boy was always courteous, Simpson said. He’d call Simpson’s wife “ma’am,” offer to take their trash bins to the curb, and when he was headed to the corner store, he’d ask if they wanted a soda, Simpson recalled.
“He was a very, very respectful guy,” Simpson said. “He didn’t bother nobody, as far as I know.”
Otis was on his way to the store the night he died.
It was a warm night and a short walk, just a couple of blocks, but his mother handed him a thermal on his way out the door.
She put on headphones and turned on Netflix. She never heard the gunshots.
Close to 9 p.m., neighbors knocked on her door. There was a body in an alley, surrounded by police and paramedics, and they had recognized the Nike sneakers that Otis kept bright white.
He was rushed to St. Francis Medical Center. The hospital staff guided his parents to “that little room, with the couches like in the movies,” Brazil said, and a surgeon came in to affirm what they already knew.
Alfred, the sheriff’s lieutenant, said detectives have recovered video showing Otis walking in an alley between East 98th and East 99th streets, parallel to South Central Avenue. A car pulled up and someone inside it opened fire, he said.
Brazil hopes that someone will come forward with information about who killed her son. “People talk,” she said. “People brag.”
The day after Otis died, his mother and father walked to the alley. They cleaned up his blood, picked up the gloves and wrappings the paramedics had discarded, set up some candles and flowers. Then, they gathered up their things and moved in with Otis’ older sister in Palmdale, an hour’s drive north of Los Angeles.
“Seeing that every day,” Brazil said of the alley, “I don’t think we could ever heal.”
The Sheriff’s Department has asked anyone with knowledge of Otis’ killing to call the homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500.


latimes--2020-07-25--Irvine mayor who blocked resident on Facebook is accused of violating 1st Amendment

An Irvine resident filed a complaint in federal court this week accusing Mayor Christina Shea of violating his 1st Amendment rights by blocking his profile on Facebook after he made comments in support of the Black Lives Matter movement .
The complaint , filed on behalf of Irvine resident Lamar West , claims that Shea used her Facebook page as a public forum and blocked West ’ s ability to engage in open discussion during a critical period of debate in the country regarding police brutality and racism .
The lawsuit also says that Shea blocked other residents from her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticism of the mayor ’ s tenure and position on recent social events , plaintiff and a host of other individuals have been prevented or impeded from viewing the mayor ’ s profile , from replying to her posts , from viewing the discussions associated with the posts , and from participating in those discussions , ” the complaint reads .
“ Accordingly , defendant ’ s actions violated plaintiff ’ s 1st Amendment right to express dissent in response to the mayor ’ s policies and to view and interact with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such dissent.
” West is being represented by the Los Angeles-based firm Baum , Hedlund , Aristei and Goldman .
Shea first came for her online activities in early June after she deleted and blocked comments supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement on her Facebook profile .
At the time , she contended that the profile page was for personal use , and that she had a separate Facebook profile for public dialogue .
Public officials are legally allowed to hold private social media accounts .
However , Shea posted similar statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter protests in June , and the complaint says that Shea has used her profile “ since its inception ... to disseminate information regarding mayoral and city council activities ... all with greater frequency than her page.
” Shea said she made sure her use of Facebook forums was proper .
“ After receiving a letter about my personal Facebook page I consulted with my city attorney , and as a result made a number of simple changes to ensure that my personal page was for personal matters , and the public page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Thursday in a texted comment .
“ Those changes were made weeks ago .
My city attorney stated to me all was now in compliance .
As an elected official , who isn ’ t an attorney , it was good to get proper guidance as the laws have been ever changing.
” Shea ’ s comments in June — made amid nationwide protests that were sparked after the death of George Floyd — were strongly in support of her police department and critical of protesters .
They provoked heated discussion on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named one of the safest cities in America for 15 years in a row and I will not agree to reduce our public safety funding especially after seeing the violence we have endured as a nation this past week , ” Shea wrote on her Facebook page on June 3 , according to the complaint .
“ If you are coming into Irvine to promote an agenda , and protest for lesser public safety protection , best you turn around and find another city to compromise.
” “ Like other educated people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to support the movement and not defund the police but you don ’ t want to do either .
I can hear the racist ancestors of yours in this post , and it ’ s sickening .
Enjoy your position while it [ lasts ] , ” West wrote , according to the complaint .
West was blocked soon after making the post and remains blocked , the lawsuit says .
The complaint , which also alleges a violation of the California Constitution , is also asking for compensatory damages for West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unblock West ’ s account .
“ The mayor ’ s actions clearly suppressed speech within a public forum and during a period of intense public controversy concerning use of force by law enforcement and systematic racism , which precluded plaintiff from being included or able to participate in a robust public debate , ” the complaint says .
Shea has received criticism from the Thurgood Marshall Bar Assn.
, Orange County ’ s only Black bar association , the Knight First Amendment Institute and the ACLU of Southern California for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials use social media clearly in their governmental capacities , then if they are going to allow comments , they can ’ t discriminate on the basis of the content of those comments , ” Peter Eliasberg , chief counsel and 1st Amendment attorney with the ACLU of Southern California , said in June .
“ Government officials can act as private citizens and use social media as private citizens , in those cases they are free to choose whether they want to delete comments or allow them or pick or choose among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of official content on both of [ Shea ’ s ] pages , and we do have serious concerns about Mayor Shea ’ s blocking comments on one of her Facebook sites.
” In June , Irvine resident Jessica Ortega said she was blocked after posting comments on Shea ’ s personal Facebook page .
She said she knew a few others who had also been blocked for comments critical of Shea , who is up for reelection in November .
“ If I can ’ t express myself to my own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t feel like my voice is ever going to be heard , ” Ortega said at the time .

An Irvine resident filed a legal complaint in federal court this week claiming Irvine Mayor Christina Shea violated his 1st Amendment rights when she blocked him on Facebook.
An Irvine resident filed a complaint in federal court this week accusing Mayor Christina Shea of violating his 1st Amendment rights by blocking his profile on Facebook after he made comments in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The complaint, filed on behalf of Irvine resident Lamar West, claims that Shea used her Facebook page as a public forum and blocked West’s ability to engage in open discussion during a critical period of debate in the country regarding police brutality and racism.
The lawsuit also says that Shea blocked other residents from her profile page.
Advertisement
“Because of their criticism of the mayor’s tenure and position on recent social events, plaintiff and a host of other individuals have been prevented or impeded from viewing the mayor’s profile, from replying to her posts, from viewing the discussions associated with the posts, and from participating in those discussions,” the complaint reads. “Accordingly, defendant’s actions violated plaintiff’s 1st Amendment right to express dissent in response to the mayor’s policies and to view and interact with the comments of others that have similarly expressed such dissent.”
West is being represented by the Los Angeles-based firm Baum, Hedlund, Aristei and Goldman.
Shea first came under fire for her online activities in early June after she deleted and blocked comments supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement on her Facebook profile. At the time, she contended that the profile page was for personal use, and that she had a separate Facebook profile for public dialogue. Public officials are legally allowed to hold private social media accounts.
However, Shea posted similar statements on both pages during the Black Lives Matter protests in June, and the complaint says that Shea has used her profile “since its inception ... to disseminate information regarding mayoral and city council activities ... all with greater frequency than her page.”
Shea said she made sure her use of Facebook forums was proper.
“After receiving a letter about my personal Facebook page I consulted with my city attorney, and as a result made a number of simple changes to ensure that my personal page was for personal matters, and the public page is for city matters,” Shea said Thursday in a texted comment. “Those changes were made weeks ago. My city attorney stated to me all was now in compliance. As an elected official, who isn’t an attorney, it was good to get proper guidance as the laws have been ever changing.”
Shea’s comments in June — made amid nationwide protests that were sparked after the death of George Floyd — were strongly in support of her police department and critical of protesters. They provoked heated discussion on her page.
Advertisement
“We have been named one of the safest cities in America for 15 years in a row and I will not agree to reduce our public safety funding especially after seeing the violence we have endured as a nation this past week,” Shea wrote on her Facebook page on June 3, according to the complaint. “If you are coming into Irvine to promote an agenda, and protest for lesser public safety protection, best you turn around and find another city to compromise.”
Many responded critically to Shea’s post, including West, a Black man.
“Like other educated people have mentioned, it’s okay for you to support the movement and not defund the police but you don’t want to do either. I can hear the racist ancestors of yours in this post, and it’s sickening. Enjoy your position while it [lasts],” West wrote, according to the complaint.
West was blocked soon after making the post and remains blocked, the lawsuit says.
The complaint, which also alleges a violation of the California Constitution, is also asking for compensatory damages for West and for the court to order Shea to unblock West’s account.
“The mayor’s actions clearly suppressed speech within a public forum and during a period of intense public controversy concerning use of force by law enforcement and systematic racism, which precluded plaintiff from being included or able to participate in a robust public debate,” the complaint says.
Shea has received criticism from the Thurgood Marshall Bar Assn., Orange County’s only Black bar association, the Knight First Amendment Institute and the ACLU of Southern California for her actions on Facebook.
“When government officials use social media clearly in their governmental capacities, then if they are going to allow comments, they can’t discriminate on the basis of the content of those comments,” Peter Eliasberg, chief counsel and 1st Amendment attorney with the ACLU of Southern California, said in June. “Government officials can act as private citizens and use social media as private citizens, in those cases they are free to choose whether they want to delete comments or allow them or pick or choose among them.
“There is quite a bit of official content on both of [Shea’s] pages, and we do have serious concerns about Mayor Shea’s blocking comments on one of her Facebook sites.”
In June, Irvine resident Jessica Ortega said she was blocked after posting comments on Shea’s personal Facebook page. She said she knew a few others who had also been blocked for comments critical of Shea, who is up for reelection in November.
“If I can’t express myself to my own mayor for change, then I don’t feel like my voice is ever going to be heard,” Ortega said at the time.
Brazil writes for Times Community News


latimes--2020-07-25--A COVID-19 death renews questions of responsibility of Uber and Lyft to drivers

Chuck Beckner begged his 71-year-old mother not to drive for Uber and Lyft during the pandemic .
She didn ’ t listen .
Then COVID-19 took Billie Sue Matchke ’ s life .
“ She didn ’ t deserve that .
She was such a good person , such a good mother , ” Beckner said , looking at her Toyota Prius still parked in front of the mobile home they shared in El Cajon .
“ She didn ’ t want to be on any life-sustaining equipment , ” he added , fighting back tears .
“ The COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we had the feeding tube taken out.
” The pandemic has dramatically raised the stakes in the years-long fight over what protections Lyft , Uber and other gig-economy companies should be required to provide workers .
Adding to longstanding wage and benefit gripes , Matchke ’ s fate is now the nightmare scenario facing rideshare drivers everywhere .
Some have recently gone beyond just wearing masks and wiping down door handles to also installing makeshift partitions in their vehicles to shield themselves from potentially infected customers .
Advocates have argued that drivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death just to make ends meet , and have blasted Uber and Lyft for making it nearly impossible for drivers to collect state unemployment pay .
“ The companies are notoriously greedy , ” said Terri Beilke , a San Diego-based driver and volunteer organizer with the advocacy group Rideshare Drivers United .
“ They have plenty of money , and yet they want to keep risking their drivers ’ lives because , I guess , we ’ re expendable to them.
” Lyft and Uber have long maintained that their drivers should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the freedom workers have to set their own schedules .
As such , the companies have argued that workers have no legal right to protections such as unemployment , overtime and sick leave .
Instead , they have rolled out a variety of programs and policies aimed at quelling health concerns .
Those have included offering temporary sick pay for those who test positive for the virus and doling out masks and other personal protective equipment , albeit often at the driver ’ s expense .
“ As people continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the health and safety of our driver and rider community is our priority , ” Lyft said in a statement .
Uber offered a similar response , adding : “ The reports of the driver ’ s passing are heartbreaking and our thoughts are with her family and everyone suffering from this pandemic.
” Matchke worked for more than three decades at the North Island Naval Air Rework Facility on Coronado before retiring .
Still , she routinely needed money and had gone through a recent bankruptcy .
At first , driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perfect gig to help the sociable Matchke supplement her pension .
However , her diabetes complicated the situation when the coronavirus started spreading throughout California .
Matchke quit driving for a few weeks after the state issued its first stay-home orders in March , but it wasn ’ t long before she was back behind the wheel .
She had applied for unemployment insurance , but like so many rideshare drivers had trouble securing the benefits .
Then around mid-June , Matchke fell ill. First she had a sore throat , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A few days later , her daughter drove her to the hospital , where it was soon confirmed that she had COVID-19 .
Doctors quickly put her on heavy medication and a ventilator , marking the last time Beckner would have a fully coherent conversation with his mother .
“ I talked to her on the phone , and I told her , ‘ Mom , I love you , ” he said .
“ You ’ re going to pull through this .
You ’ re a strong woman.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eventually , doctors told Beckner that the virus had caused considerable brain damage , and she died in early July .
“ It just got worse and worse , ” he said , weeping .
“ She got what ’ s called COVID brain.
” Carol Butler said she was crushed to hear about her longtime friend .
The last time they had gotten together was just a week before Matchke went into the hospital .
“ She was walking her dog and she came over to my house , and we talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the last I saw of her , ” Butler said .
“ I knew about the dangers .
You hear about it all the time , but you feel it a lot more when you have somebody close that dies.
” Beckner said the county conducted contact tracing , reaching out to friends and family , but nobody else in their immediate circle was identified as having the virus .
Uber and Lyft have refused to pay into California ’ s unemployment fund , making it very difficult for the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments in recent months .
“ The pandemic has put in stark relief how essential those protections are to workers , ” said Ken Jacobs , chair of the Labor Center at UC Berkeley , who ’ s been closely following the issue .
“ They are trying to maximize earnings , minimize costs , ” he said of gig-work employers .
“ It ’ s what they do as businesses , and it ’ s up to society and our public institutions to set the parameters within which they work.
” Top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines , passing Assembly Bill 5 , which went into effect in January .
The law puts significant legal pressure on companies to reclassify their workers as employees and provide the associated benefits .
Gig employers have refused to comply .
Uber and Postmates challenged the constitutionality of the law in federal court , while Uber , Lyft and others have spent millions on a ballot initiative campaign to sidestep the new law in favor of a suite of industry-designed labor standards .
Proposition 22 will appear on the November ballot ; a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies from AB 5 .
In response , California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra and the city attorneys of Los Angeles , San Francisco and San Diego sued Uber and Lyft in May in San Francisco Superior Court .
If the plaintiffs win , the companies would not only have to classify workers as employees but potentially pay out hundreds of millions of dollars in back wages and penalties .
“ I ’ m outraged , ” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez ( D-San Diego ) , who was the author of AB 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been playing a game for years , using delay tactics and courts to put off the inevitable.
” In the meantime , many drivers are unemployment insurance .
Gig workers have reported that navigating the state ’ s bureaucracy can drag on for months , often with no resolution in sight .
To qualify , a driver must first apply for state unemployment insurance .
Then the Employment Development Department sends a determination letter based on paperwork filed by Uber and Lyft .
Finally , the worker files an appeal and waits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audit to verify proof of income , usually through bank and tax statements .
EDD caseworkers have reportedly encouraged drivers to abandon the process and apply for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance instead .
It ’ s been easier for drivers to qualify for that emergency program , but it ’ s unclear how long it will last .
This has frustrated labor advocates , who argue gig employers should be footing the bill for such protections , not federal taxpayers .
They also point out that state unemployment insurance is often more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits are calculated .
Beckner is one of those former drivers trying to navigate the state ’ s system .
He said he ’ s been waiting for an audit from the state since April .
“ I feel that Uber and Lyft should be paying for it because I ’ m an employee , ” he said .
“ They definitely owe it to me.
” Some drivers have continued to work in recent months despite the health risks .
Recently many of them have taken to installing clear partitions in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That adds to tensions between drivers and companies over who should pay for personal protective equipment .
Uber and Lyft have responded with a patchwork of policies around the issue .
Lyft recently caught significant flak for selling such equipment to drivers .
Uber has started giving away supplies , prioritizing its busiest drivers .
“ Drivers who are already economically crunched should not be economically liable for their own safety equipment , ” said Tyler Sandness , a former driver who now works as an organizer with Rideshare Drivers United in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the responsibility of the employers to create a safe environment , especially since it ’ s their customers who are at risk if drivers don ’ t have adequate access to stuff like that.
” Not all drivers want to be classified as employees .
William Dagenhart , who has been driving more than eight hours a day for Lyft in San Diego , recently outfitted his vehicle with a homemade barrier .
He downplayed concerns about driving during the pandemic but said the partition helps customers feel more comfortable .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current status .
He ’ s concerned that if he ’ s an employee he will lose flexibility around where and when he works .
“ I like being an independent contractor , ” he said .
“ I ’ m 100 % dedicated to Lyft.
” He also doesn ’ t think rideshare companies should be forced to pay for unemployment benefits or personal protective equipment such as masks or his new partition .
“ It ’ s not their car , so they shouldn ’ t have to provide it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s my car .
I ’ m making payments on the car.
” Ricardo Sandoval , 66 , made the partition for Dagenhart using a laser cutter he owns for another business .
He said he ’ s now selling the sheets of thermoplastic polymer resin for $ 60 apiece .
They attach to front car seats by threading plastic zip ties through holes cut into the shield .
“ It doesn ’ t cover 100 % , but it helps a lot , ” said Sandoval , who also drives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though he uses one in his car , Sandoval said he ’ s recently reduced his time on the road from about eight hours a day to just a few hours a week .
He said he ’ s very concerned about catching the virus .

Chuck Beckner displays a picture of his mother and niece. Beckner’s mother, Billie Sue Matchke, died of COVID-19 shortly after going back to work as an Uber and Lyft driver.
Chuck Beckner begged his 71-year-old mother not to drive for Uber and Lyft during the pandemic. She didn’t listen. Then COVID-19 took Billie Sue Matchke’s life.
“She didn’t deserve that. She was such a good person, such a good mother,” Beckner said, looking at her Toyota Prius still parked in front of the mobile home they shared in El Cajon.
“She didn’t want to be on any life-sustaining equipment,” he added, fighting back tears. “The COVID gave her too much brain damage, so we had the feeding tube taken out.”
Advertisement
The pandemic has dramatically raised the stakes in the years-long fight over what protections Lyft, Uber and other gig-economy companies should be required to provide workers.
Adding to longstanding wage and benefit gripes, Matchke’s fate is now the nightmare scenario facing rideshare drivers everywhere. Some have recently gone beyond just wearing masks and wiping down door handles to also installing makeshift partitions in their vehicles to shield themselves from potentially infected customers.
Advocates have argued that drivers shouldn’t be forced to risk death just to make ends meet, and have blasted Uber and Lyft for making it nearly impossible for drivers to collect state unemployment pay.
“The companies are notoriously greedy,” said Terri Beilke, a San Diego-based driver and volunteer organizer with the advocacy group Rideshare Drivers United. “They have plenty of money, and yet they want to keep risking their drivers’ lives because, I guess, we’re expendable to them.”
Lyft and Uber have long maintained that their drivers should be classified as independent contractors, largely because of the freedom workers have to set their own schedules. As such, the companies have argued that workers have no legal right to protections such as unemployment, overtime and sick leave.
Instead, they have rolled out a variety of programs and policies aimed at quelling health concerns. Those have included offering temporary sick pay for those who test positive for the virus and doling out masks and other personal protective equipment, albeit often at the driver’s expense.
Advertisement
“As people continue to turn to rideshare throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the health and safety of our driver and rider community is our priority,” Lyft said in a statement.
Uber offered a similar response, adding: “The reports of the driver’s passing are heartbreaking and our thoughts are with her family and everyone suffering from this pandemic.”
Matchke worked for more than three decades at the North Island Naval Air Rework Facility on Coronado before retiring. Still, she routinely needed money and had gone through a recent bankruptcy.
At first, driving for Uber and Lyft seemed like the perfect gig to help the sociable Matchke supplement her pension. However, her diabetes complicated the situation when the coronavirus started spreading throughout California.
“I told her, ‘Please, Mom, stop. People are dying,’” Beckner recalled.
Matchke quit driving for a few weeks after the state issued its first stay-home orders in March, but it wasn’t long before she was back behind the wheel. She had applied for unemployment insurance, but like so many rideshare drivers had trouble securing the benefits.
Then around mid-June, Matchke fell ill. First she had a sore throat, but it quickly progressed into coughing and a fever. A few days later, her daughter drove her to the hospital, where it was soon confirmed that she had COVID-19.
Doctors quickly put her on heavy medication and a ventilator, marking the last time Beckner would have a fully coherent conversation with his mother.
“I talked to her on the phone, and I told her, ‘Mom, I love you,” he said. “You’re going to pull through this. You’re a strong woman.’”
She didn’t get better. Eventually, doctors told Beckner that the virus had caused considerable brain damage, and she died in early July.
“It just got worse and worse,” he said, weeping. “She got what’s called COVID brain.”
Carol Butler said she was crushed to hear about her longtime friend. The last time they had gotten together was just a week before Matchke went into the hospital.
“She was walking her dog and she came over to my house, and we talked for like five minutes. That’s the last I saw of her,” Butler said. “I knew about the dangers. You hear about it all the time, but you feel it a lot more when you have somebody close that dies.”
Beckner said the county conducted contact tracing, reaching out to friends and family, but nobody else in their immediate circle was identified as having the virus.
Uber and Lyft have refused to pay into California’s unemployment fund, making it very difficult for the state’s roughly 500,000 drivers to secure such payments in recent months.
“The pandemic has put in stark relief how essential those protections are to workers,” said Ken Jacobs, chair of the Labor Center at UC Berkeley, who’s been closely following the issue.
“They are trying to maximize earnings, minimize costs,” he said of gig-work employers. “It’s what they do as businesses, and it’s up to society and our public institutions to set the parameters within which they work.”
Top state officials have attempted to draw those lines, passing Assembly Bill 5, which went into effect in January. The law puts significant legal pressure on companies to reclassify their workers as employees and provide the associated benefits.
Gig employers have refused to comply. Uber and Postmates challenged the constitutionality of the law in federal court, while Uber, Lyft and others have spent millions on a ballot initiative campaign to sidestep the new law in favor of a suite of industry-designed labor standards.
Proposition 22 will appear on the November ballot; a “yes” vote would exempt the companies from AB 5.
In response, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and the city attorneys of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego sued Uber and Lyft in May in San Francisco Superior Court. If the plaintiffs win, the companies would not only have to classify workers as employees but potentially pay out hundreds of millions of dollars in back wages and penalties.
“I’m outraged,” said Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), who was the author of AB 5. “I feel like these companies have been playing a game for years, using delay tactics and courts to put off the inevitable.”
In the meantime, many drivers are struggling to secure unemployment insurance. Gig workers have reported that navigating the state’s bureaucracy can drag on for months, often with no resolution in sight.
To qualify, a driver must first apply for state unemployment insurance. Then the Employment Development Department sends a determination letter based on paperwork filed by Uber and Lyft. Finally, the worker files an appeal and waits for the state to set up an audit to verify proof of income, usually through bank and tax statements.
EDD caseworkers have reportedly encouraged drivers to abandon the process and apply for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance instead. It’s been easier for drivers to qualify for that emergency program, but it’s unclear how long it will last.
This has frustrated labor advocates, who argue gig employers should be footing the bill for such protections, not federal taxpayers. They also point out that state unemployment insurance is often more generous for gig workers because of how benefits are calculated.
Beckner is one of those former drivers trying to navigate the state’s system. He said he’s been waiting for an audit from the state since April.
“I feel that Uber and Lyft should be paying for it because I’m an employee,” he said. “They definitely owe it to me.”
Some drivers have continued to work in recent months despite the health risks. Recently many of them have taken to installing clear partitions in their vehicles to prevent the sharing of germs. That adds to tensions between drivers and companies over who should pay for personal protective equipment.
Uber and Lyft have responded with a patchwork of policies around the issue. Lyft recently caught significant flak for selling such equipment to drivers. Uber has started giving away supplies, prioritizing its busiest drivers.
“Drivers who are already economically crunched should not be economically liable for their own safety equipment,” said Tyler Sandness, a former driver who now works as an organizer with Rideshare Drivers United in Los Angeles. “It really should be the responsibility of the employers to create a safe environment, especially since it’s their customers who are at risk if drivers don’t have adequate access to stuff like that.”
Not all drivers want to be classified as employees. William Dagenhart, who has been driving more than eight hours a day for Lyft in San Diego, recently outfitted his vehicle with a homemade barrier. He downplayed concerns about driving during the pandemic but said the partition helps customers feel more comfortable.
He said he’s happy with his current status. He’s concerned that if he’s an employee he will lose flexibility around where and when he works.
“I like being an independent contractor,” he said. “I’m 100% dedicated to Lyft.”
He also doesn’t think rideshare companies should be forced to pay for unemployment benefits or personal protective equipment such as masks or his new partition.
“It’s not their car, so they shouldn’t have to provide it,” said Dagenhart, 49. “It’s my car. I’m making payments on the car.”
Ricardo Sandoval, 66, made the partition for Dagenhart using a laser cutter he owns for another business. He said he’s now selling the sheets of thermoplastic polymer resin for $60 apiece. They attach to front car seats by threading plastic zip ties through holes cut into the shield.
“It doesn’t cover 100%, but it helps a lot,” said Sandoval, who also drives. “The riders love it.”
Though he uses one in his car, Sandoval said he’s recently reduced his time on the road from about eight hours a day to just a few hours a week. He said he’s very concerned about catching the virus.
Smith writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.


latimes--2020-07-25--Column: He had a box cutter, ignored commands, and a cop shot him six times. Were there better optio

Column: He had a box cutter, ignored commands, and a cop shot him six times. Were there better options?

Ten years ago , after a controversial case in which an LAPD officer shot and killed a man armed with a knife , the department offered me a chance to virtually experience what it ’ s like to make a split-second decision about when to shoot .
I got a crash course on the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s policy on the use of deadly force and then was sent into a video simulator room , where I was handed a service belt with a Glock semiautomatic .
Then they started a video in which a series of actors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to figure out whether or not to shoot .
It wasn ’ t easy .
Deciding when a suspect might be a threat to an officer or other people can be complicated .
And I was in a video game , not the real world , where the pressure has to be intense .
In one scene , a suspect in a domestic dispute shot and killed me before I reached for my weapon .
In another , I shot and killed a man charging at me with a knife , but my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have been injured or killed by the suspect .
That last scene came to mind last week when I read a story by my colleagues James Rainey and Andrew J. Campa about an LAPD officer who shot and killed a man with a razor-edged box cutter April 22 just south of downtown L.A .
The story quoted use-of-force expert Ed Obayashi , who defended the fatal shooting of 38-year-old carpet installer Daniel Hernandez by 23-year-old officer Toni McBride .
Obayashi called it “ a clear-cut justified shooting ” and said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind this officer was facing an immediate threat to her life.
” I ’ m no expert just because I had a few minutes of video simulation training , but I see things a little differently .
Before I explain what I mean , I should note that the story by Rainey and Campa offered up some interesting history about Officer McBride : “ A slew of online videos show the … officer blasting away at targets , with prize-winning speed and accuracy , on a gun range in the Simi Valley foothills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She cavorted and strutted , sometimes within view of Hollywood glitterati , who used the same firing range to hone the gunplay they would use for movies and TV.
” McBride is the daughter of Jamie McBride , the face and mouth of the Los Angeles Police Protective League and an occasional actor who plays tough cops and street thugs .
When the May 25 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police led to nationwide demonstrations , Jamie McBride ’ s response was to put up a Facebook post with a video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who led the department during some of its most brutal , alienating years .
“ The CHIEF !
Never sell out and back the troops !
” McBride wrote .
The sins of the father shouldn ’ t be blamed on his offspring , and maybe Toni McBride has very different attitudes from her father .
But , fairly or not , her status as a gun-toting model and shooting-gallery doyenne has brought additional scrutiny to the April 22 shooting , and two lawsuits alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatives of Hernandez .
McBride ’ s attorney told The Times the officer admirably handled a fast-moving incident , but an attorney for the dead man ’ s family countered , “ Do we want police officers to be gunslingers , or to live up to the LAPD motto , ‘ To protect and to serve ’ ?
” According to the LAPD account — which includes video from officer body cams and civilian witnesses — McBride and a partner were responding to a call when they came upon an unrelated multi-vehicle accident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a truck was still in the vehicle and was trying to harm himself with a knife .
McBride capably tried to manage the chaotic scene , ordering civilians to move out of the way .
She called for backup and asked her partner whether they had less-lethal weapons , but no response can be heard on the video .
Hernandez exited his vehicle and walked slowly in McBride ’ s direction , ignoring her calls for him to “ show your hands , ” “ stay right there ” and “ drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said as Hernandez took another step toward her , and she fired twice .
Hernandez fell to his knees , bounced back up , and McBride shot him two more times , knocking him down .
She then fired twice more .
Hernandez , motionless , was handcuffed by another officer .
An autopsy found methamphetamine in his system .
By ignoring commands and advancing toward a police officer , Hernandez certainly put himself at risk , and McBride had to quickly decide how to respond .
“ She had fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somebody she felt was coming at her and … toward the other citizens who were out there , ” McBride ’ s attorney said .
But when McBride first fired , Hernandez appeared to be roughly 20 feet or more from her .
If he had a gun , the shooting might be easier to justify , said a career law enforcement official who asked not to be identified .
A box cutter can certainly be a lethal weapon , but from a distance , it couldn ’ t do much harm .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ de-escalate the situation , possibly by taking cover behind her vehicle ?
Sure , she was at risk , but that ’ s part of the job , and couldn ’ t multiple officers have subdued a single suspect who didn ’ t have a gun with force , batons , Tasers , something less lethal ?
And once Hernandez was down , were the last two shots necessary , particularly given the bystanders who could have been hit if McBride missed ?
The law enforcement official I spoke to predicted the LAPD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shooting was technically within policy , but the tactics McBride used could be found at fault .
I contacted an expert on deadly force named Chet Epperson , a retired cop and police chief who served in Illinois and is now a police policy consultant and president of Americans for Effective Law Enforcement .
He watched the video and emphasized that he does not know what additional evidence exists .
But based on what he saw , Epperson said it ’ s fair to ask why additional de-escalation was not attempted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weapons were available , why she didn ’ t take cover behind her vehicle to buy time and why she fired the last rounds after the suspect was down and the threat was diminished , and while bystanders were still in danger of being hit .
“ Without doing any measurements , there does appear to me to be some distance between the shooting officer and the suspect that has the weapon , ” Epperson said .
“ He wasn ’ t up on his hands , ” he added about the rounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He wasn ’ t running at the officer .
He didn ’ t pull a gun out .
He wasn ’ t throwing knives .
I would highly question the additional discharge of firearms against a suspect when he ’ s down , obviously down , not in a fighting stance but in a wounded position.
” It could take up to a year to complete the official review of the shooting , and that ’ s hard to comprehend .
It ’ s way too long , especially now that deadly force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microscope .
And this isn ’ t the only recent use-of-force case in L.A. County that ’ s raised questions .
Two months after the Hernandez shooting , 18-year-old Andres Guardado was shot in the back five times by a Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputy in a case with at least as many unanswered questions .
Sure , it ’ s easy to second-guess police actions from a safe distance .
But when lives are taken , it ’ s a public duty to ask why , and to challenge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is found to have acted appropriately , I think that as a general rule , if you want to be a cop who commands trust and respect , it ’ s not a good idea to be a modern-day Annie Oakley on social media , gleefully mowing down every target in sight .

LAPD Officer Toni McBride has faced scrutiny after she fatally shot a man April 22. The discussion partly involves her status as a gun-toting model and her father’s position with the Police Protective League.
Ten years ago, after a controversial case in which an LAPD officer shot and killed a man armed with a knife, the department offered me a chance to virtually experience what it’s like to make a split-second decision about when to shoot.
I got a crash course on the Los Angeles Police Department’s policy on the use of deadly force and then was sent into a video simulator room, where I was handed a service belt with a Glock semiautomatic. Then they started a video in which a series of actors played threatening suspects, and I had to figure out whether or not to shoot.
It wasn’t easy. Deciding when a suspect might be a threat to an officer or other people can be complicated. And I was in a video game, not the real world, where the pressure has to be intense.
Advertisement
In one scene, a suspect in a domestic dispute shot and killed me before I reached for my weapon. In another, I shot and killed a man charging at me with a knife, but my trainer said I waited too long and could have been injured or killed by the suspect.
That last scene came to mind last week when I read a story by my colleagues James Rainey and Andrew J. Campa about an LAPD officer who shot and killed a man with a razor-edged box cutter April 22 just south of downtown L.A. The story quoted use-of-force expert Ed Obayashi, who defended the fatal shooting of 38-year-old carpet installer Daniel Hernandez by 23-year-old officer Toni McBride.
Obayashi called it “a clear-cut justified shooting” and said, “There is absolutely no doubt in my mind this officer was facing an immediate threat to her life.”
I’m no expert just because I had a few minutes of video simulation training, but I see things a little differently. Before I explain what I mean, I should note that the story by Rainey and Campa offered up some interesting history about Officer McBride:
“A slew of online videos show the … officer blasting away at targets, with prize-winning speed and accuracy, on a gun range in the Simi Valley foothills,” the story said. “She cavorted and strutted, sometimes within view of Hollywood glitterati, who used the same firing range to hone the gunplay they would use for movies and TV.”
McBride is the daughter of Jamie McBride, the face and mouth of the Los Angeles Police Protective League and an occasional actor who plays tough cops and street thugs. When the May 25 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police led to nationwide demonstrations, Jamie McBride’s response was to put up a Facebook post with a video of former LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates, who led the department during some of its most brutal, alienating years. “The CHIEF! Never sell out and back the troops!” McBride wrote.
Advertisement
The sins of the father shouldn’t be blamed on his offspring, and maybe Toni McBride has very different attitudes from her father. But, fairly or not, her status as a gun-toting model and shooting-gallery doyenne has brought additional scrutiny to the April 22 shooting, and two lawsuits alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations have been filed against McBride and the city by relatives of Hernandez.
McBride’s attorney told The Times the officer admirably handled a fast-moving incident, but an attorney for the dead man’s family countered, “Do we want police officers to be gunslingers, or to live up to the LAPD motto, ‘To protect and to serve’?”
According to the LAPD account — which includes video from officer body cams and civilian witnesses — McBride and a partner were responding to a call when they came upon an unrelated multi-vehicle accident. They were told that the driver of a truck was still in the vehicle and was trying to harm himself with a knife.
McBride capably tried to manage the chaotic scene, ordering civilians to move out of the way. She called for backup and asked her partner whether they had less-lethal weapons, but no response can be heard on the video. Hernandez exited his vehicle and walked slowly in McBride’s direction, ignoring her calls for him to “show your hands,” “stay right there” and “drop the knife.”
“Drop it,” she said as Hernandez took another step toward her, and she fired twice. Hernandez fell to his knees, bounced back up, and McBride shot him two more times, knocking him down. She then fired twice more. Hernandez, motionless, was handcuffed by another officer. An autopsy found methamphetamine in his system.
By ignoring commands and advancing toward a police officer, Hernandez certainly put himself at risk, and McBride had to quickly decide how to respond.
“She had fear at all times and was shooting at somebody she felt was coming at her and … toward the other citizens who were out there,” McBride’s attorney said.
But when McBride first fired, Hernandez appeared to be roughly 20 feet or more from her. If he had a gun, the shooting might be easier to justify, said a career law enforcement official who asked not to be identified.
A box cutter can certainly be a lethal weapon, but from a distance, it couldn’t do much harm. So should McBride have tried harder to de-escalate the situation, possibly by taking cover behind her vehicle?
Sure, she was at risk, but that’s part of the job, and couldn’t multiple officers have subdued a single suspect who didn’t have a gun with force, batons, Tasers, something less lethal? And once Hernandez was down, were the last two shots necessary, particularly given the bystanders who could have been hit if McBride missed?
The law enforcement official I spoke to predicted the LAPD investigation into the matter might find that the shooting was technically within policy, but the tactics McBride used could be found at fault.
I contacted an expert on deadly force named Chet Epperson, a retired cop and police chief who served in Illinois and is now a police policy consultant and president of Americans for Effective Law Enforcement. He watched the video and emphasized that he does not know what additional evidence exists.
But based on what he saw, Epperson said it’s fair to ask why additional de-escalation was not attempted, why McBride did not know whether less-lethal weapons were available, why she didn’t take cover behind her vehicle to buy time and why she fired the last rounds after the suspect was down and the threat was diminished, and while bystanders were still in danger of being hit.
“Without doing any measurements, there does appear to me to be some distance between the shooting officer and the suspect that has the weapon,” Epperson said.
“He wasn’t up on his hands,” he added about the rounds fired after Hernandez was down. “He wasn’t running at the officer. He didn’t pull a gun out. He wasn’t throwing knives. I would highly question the additional discharge of firearms against a suspect when he’s down, obviously down, not in a fighting stance but in a wounded position.”
It could take up to a year to complete the official review of the shooting, and that’s hard to comprehend. It’s way too long, especially now that deadly force against people of color is under a microscope. And this isn’t the only recent use-of-force case in L.A. County that’s raised questions. Two months after the Hernandez shooting, 18-year-old Andres Guardado was shot in the back five times by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in a case with at least as many unanswered questions.
Sure, it’s easy to second-guess police actions from a safe distance. But when lives are taken, it’s a public duty to ask why, and to challenge the answers.
And even if Toni McBride is found to have acted appropriately, I think that as a general rule, if you want to be a cop who commands trust and respect, it’s not a good idea to be a modern-day Annie Oakley on social media, gleefully mowing down every target in sight.
steve.lopez@latimes.com