In response to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck's statement regarding the officer-involved shooting in Venice Beach late last night as identified by the Los Angeles Times, Craig Lally, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, released the following statement on behalf of the League:
"It is completely irresponsible for anyone, much less the Chief of Police, to render a judgment on an incident that is in the early stages of the investigation. As the final trier of fact in the use-of-force investigation and disciplinary process, the premature decision by the chief essentially renders the investigation process void. Additionally, by making his opinion public without having all of the facts, he influences the investigation for all parties involved, including his command officers and the public. As in the criminal justice system, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We encourage everyone to reserve judgment until the investigation has run its course, and the facts are collected and assessed."
