Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAPD Chief Defends Cadet Program At Graduation Despite Mounting Scandals
Hundreds of teenagers gathered at the Galen Center near USC Saturday morning to graduate from the Los Angeles Police Department's Cadet program amid rising news about misconduct and scandals within the program. In recent weeks, the program was suspended in two divisions after cadets stole and crashed police cruisers, and then LAPD Officer Robert Cain was arrested for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old cadet who was arrested in connection with the thefts. According to the L.A. Times, text messages revealed that Cain allegedly knew of the thefts and possibly assisted the teenagers. On Friday, the Times reported that over 100 firearms were seized from Officer Cain's Rancho Cucamonga home during a search for evidence around the alleged statutory rape.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck held an inspection of the more than 450 graduates and the roughly 1,275 other cadets attending the ceremony, according to the L.A. Times. Chief Beck wanted to extend the inspection to the entire cadet program because he wanted "them to see the chief, and look the chief in the eye, and know that I care about their future and I care about their present," according to KTLA. The inspections are working in tandem with a review of the entire cadet program after these scandals revealed poor oversight. In his speech to the cadets, Chief Beck mentioned how enrollment for the cadet program has surged in recent years, "contributing to the department's struggle to maintain proper supervision," according to KTLA.
Despite the controversy, Chief Beck remains committed to the popular program for disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles. He described the cadets as "the city's future," adding "[o]ur goal is to make [the cadets] the best human beings you can possibly be, to prepare you for what can be a difficult life."
Prior to this AMs Cadet graduation, I inspected each cadet-I looked them in the eye & let them know that I care about them & this program pic.twitter.com/QICHxWOj9y
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) June 24, 2017
Support for LAist comes from
My msg to the #LAPD Cadet leadership, & our Youth Service Officers was simple: I believe in you & our ability to move forward together pic.twitter.com/e5eOLcIhCn
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) June 24, 2017
1/2- To my ofcrs: If someone doesn't uphold your hard work, ethics&values-I will protect you+the program from that person-Lead w/ your heart pic.twitter.com/MdWCbIIZf4
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) June 24, 2017
2/2: To our newest cadets: you are MY cadets. You have & will complete tremendous service for this city and our dept-I believe in all of you pic.twitter.com/4ebRG9is3U
— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) June 24, 2017
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist