Families call for LAPD policy changes outside City Hall
Los Angeles City Council members joined the family of Keenan Anderson and others on the steps of City Hall Tuesday to call for changes to LAPD policies.
They called for changes including restrictions on the use of Tasers, and not having officers take part in what they called minor traffic stops.
Keenan Darnell Anderson, 31, was killed during the LAPD's response to a call of a hit-and-run in Venice on January 3. Police say Anderson reportedly caused the crash and then fled, and when they tracked him down, officers say a physical confrontation took place. Police used a stun gun to arrest him. The stun gun was used multiple times before Anderson succumbed. He was taken into custody and died several hours later at a hospital. Police say he tested positive for cocaine and marijuana. No official cause of death was given. He did suffer a heart attack.
Anderson's family says he was an English teacher from the Washington, D.C., area and was the father of a 6-year-old. He was visiting L.A. for the holidays. His family said he had been experiencing a mental health crisis. Anderson was also the cousin of Black Lives Matter movement co-founder Patrisse Cullors.
Tuesday, Keenan's sister, Dominique Anderson, spoke.
"Swift action is what we need for these senseless killings, over-policing and miscarriages of justice handed down by law enforcement. We need this to stop," said Dominique Anderson. "Our brother Keenan deserves to be alive with his family, friends, and teaching his students."
L.A. City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson said he's backing policing measures now before the city council.
"We have two motions in process in the City Council. One is unarmed mental health responses. The other is alternative to policing in traffic stops," Harris-Dawson said on Tuesday. "If I run a red light, I shouldn't be confronted by a government worker with a deadly weapon. There's just no reason for it."
Some speakers were very critical of LAPD Chief Michel Moore.
The group of speakers moved into City Council chambers later in the morning to share their concerns.
Also recently released by the LAPD was video of the final moments of Takar Smith's life. On January 2, officers in the Rampart area responded to a woman who said a restraining order had been violated by Smith. Officers said they tried to de-escalate the situation, but Smith wielded a large knife, and an officer shot and killed him. Video has also been released in the Jan. 3 death of Oscar Leon Sanchez.
In response to these three officer-involved deaths within days of the start of the new year, LAPD Chief Michel Moore promised investigations.
