Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Activists call for reform of LA School Police Department
A Los Angeles School Police squad car.
(
So Cal Metro/Flickr CC
)
Listen
0:58
Activists call for reform of LA School Police Department
Activists call for reform of LA School Police Department
As the Los Angeles Unified School Districts seeks a new chief for its police department, student rights advocates today called for an overhaul to the way the department carries out its mission.
The coalition of activist groups released a report based on 1,500 student surveys. A ninth-grade boy talked about the way officers handcuffed him after he showed up late to school. A 12th-grade female said an officer used mace and excessive force on her friend.
Lawyer Ruth Cusick says the nearly 500-officer department operates with little oversight or transparency. She hopes L.A. Unified’s board members and superintendent regard the selection of the new chief as an opportunity, "to really look at how the department has been run and how information has been given to the community and how we can improve the department so that we do have the mission of the officers really helping students and school communities."
L.A. Unified administrators and L.A. School Police were not available for comment. The student rights coalition is part of a national effort to encourage alternative discipline policies in large urban school districts.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
