Daryl Gates
What was the accusation?
On March 3, 1991, four California Highway Patrol officers were videotaped beating Rodney G. King, a black motorist who had been stopped by the officers for speeding on a Los Angeles freeway. Upon its release to the media, the video sparked worldwide indignation against the four officers and the entire Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). On March 18th, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates held a department meeting at police headquarters to address the incident (among related issues). In speaking to and fielding questions from attendees, Gates reportedly made a brief apology to Mr. King and his family. “We regret what took place,” he said. “I hope he gets his life straightened out. Perhaps this will be the vehicle to move him down the road to a good life instead of the life he’s been involved in for such a long time.”
Key Apologia Strategies:
Shifting Responsibility, Transcendence
Video
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Sources
Mydans, S. (1991, March 19). In messages, officers banter after beating in Los Angeles. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/19/us/in-messages-officers-banter-after-beating-in-los-angeles.html
Rasmussen, C. (1991, April 5). Crisis in the LAPD: The Rodney King case. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1991-04-05/local/me-1968_1_rodney-king
Rodney King riot: Timeline of key events. (2017, April 26). Yahoo! News. Retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/news/key-moments-during-rodney-king-riot-173536036.html
