ACLU of Southern California Denounces Police Brutality Captured on Video
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
LOS ANGELES – The following statement can be attributed to Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California:
“The ACLU of Southern California shares in the disgust at the video footage of two Los Angeles Police Department officers beating a suspect on the side of the road.
“Californians are entitled to more transparency than a chance video. YouTube is not an acceptable substitute for accountability.
“The footage released today depicts two officers restraining William Cardenas in August as one officer holds his knee on the man’s neck and punches his face several times as Cardenas can be heard yelling for help and that he cannot breathe. Public confidence is eroded when we discover such incidents by chance.
“The ACLU has long advocated for increased police accountability in order to enhance public safety. The fact that this incident only came to light after being posted on a popular website dramatically illustrates how far we are from that ideal and that police reform still languishes.
“The tools to prevent this conduct from ever happening and to identify problem officers are no mystery. The department is years behind in implementing the TEAMS II computer system, something mandated by federal consent decree implemented in the wake of the Rampart police scandal. This early warning system would identify officers with problem records and cannot be delayed any longer. The public must have access to records of discipline imposed on officers; something that present California law keeps confidential.
“The officers involved in this incident should be removed from the field while a thorough investigation is conducted.”
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The Latest in Smart Justice
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Smart Justice
The ACLU Campaign for Smart Justice is an unprecedented, multiyear effort to reduce the U.S. jail and prison population by 50% and to challenge racism in the criminal legal system.