Riot gear criticized

[ex-commish 490]

Taken from Officer.Com

http://www.lapd.com/news/headlines/lapd_of...ack_of_helmets/

LAPD Policy on Riot Gear Criticized

Posted: Friday, January 23, 2009

Updated: January 23rd, 2009 10:35 AM GMT-05:00

ANDREW BLANKSTEIN

Los Angeles Times

When local protests broke out this month over the Israeli invasion of Gaza, Los Angeles Police Department officials decided that officers at the scene should not immediately wear their riot helmets out of concerns the gear might escalate passions among the demonstrators.

But the decision has now generated controversy after a protester hit an officer with the wood post of a protest sign during a march in Westwood.

Edited January 25, 2009 by xfirefighter484x
Edited to Conform to EMTBravo Posting Policy, and added article link