Muslim-American community leaders meet with LAPD to discuss concerns about Abdul Arian shooting incident NR12176rf

Los Angeles:  On Sunday, April 15, 2012, leaders of the Los Angeles area Muslim American community met with high-ranking officials of the Los Angeles Police Department to discuss concerns about the Officer Involved Shooting that occurred on Wednesday, April 11th on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley.  During the incident, 19-year-old Abdul Arian was shot and killed by LAPD officers following a vehicle pursuit.

The community leaders present included Mr. Salam Al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Community Affairs Council, Mr. Aref Abedi, Director, Islamic Center of Reseda, along with other Muslim American community leaders.  The group expressed questions and concerns about the LAPD pursuit policy, the use of force policy, and the extent and type of oversight of the LAPD regarding use of force incidents.

The LAPD provided information about the pursuit policy. In addition, the LAPD clarified the review process for Officer Involved Shootings.  It was noted that the Los Angeles Police Commission, a civilian board appointed by the Mayor, provides civilian oversight to the LAPD.  In addition, the independent Inspector General, working under the authority of the Police Commission, reviews Officer Involved Shootings and makes independent recommendations to the Police Commission.  Finally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office independently reviews all LAPD shootings.

The LAPD explained how the Officer Involved Shooting investigations are conducted.  The LAPD’s Force Investigation Division responded to the incident and began a thorough investigation of the shooting and all related crimes.   That investigation may take months to complete, as it is extremely thorough and meticulous, with every shot fired being accounted for, reviewed and analyzed.  In fact, the LAPD’s Officer Involved Shooting investigations are the most through and comprehensive shooting investigations done in the United States.

The Officer Involved Shooting investigation protocol used by the LAPD has been reviewed and approved by the Federal Monitor, a Federal Judge, while the LAPD was under a Federal Consent Decree.

The completed investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy which states that an officer’s use-of-force actions must be objectively reasonable.

More information is available by contacting Commander Andrew Smith, Media Relations and Community Affairs Group at 213-486-5900.