Torrance police traded racist, homophobic texts. It could jeopardize hundreds of cases

[RandySF]

The officers’ comments spared no color or creed: They joked about “gassing” Jewish people, assaulting members of the LGBTQ community, using violence against suspects and lying during an investigation into a police shooting, according to district attorney’s office records reviewed by The Times.

Frequently, hateful comments were targeted at Black people. Officers called Black men “savages,”and several variations of the N-word, according to documents reviewed by The Times. The officers also shared instructions on how to tie a noose and a picture of a stuffed animal being lynched inside Torrance’s police headquarters, according to the documents.

While no officers currently face criminal charges in direct relation to the text messages, the racist exchanges have led to the dismissal of at least 85 criminal cases involving the officers implicated in the scandal. County prosecutors had tossed 35 felony cases as of mid-November, and the Torrance city attorney’s office has dismissed an additional 50, officials said.

In total, the officers were listed as potential witnesses in nearly 1,400 cases in the last decade, according to district attorney’s records The Times obtained through a public records request. The officers did not necessarily testify in each case, so it’s unclear how many of those cases could be affected.




https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-08/torrance-police-traded-racist-homophobic-texts-it-could-jeopardize-hundreds-of-cases

[LenaBaby61]

1. I lived in Torrance California for several years ....

And this is NOT shocking to me. Not one bit.

People seem not to understand that a LOT of policemen are vile, racist pieces of shit, and that's for sure FACT here in Soutehrn California, and living through the INFAMOUS 77th Street Station Division of policing.

[LoisB]

3. I avoid Torrance as much as possible. It is not just

the police who are "vile, racist pieces of shit"; there is more active racism in Southern California than one would think.

[LenaBaby61]

6. I HEAR YOU!

My late mother bought a brand new 1967 Ford Mustang, and a cop pulled her over. She was a nurse going to check in on one of her patients she was doing private duty nursing for, and the PIG not cop but PIG pulled her over and actually said to her "What's a N@&&$r doing with a brand new car like this. You steal it?" She's used to racism, fucked up "PIGS" having grown up in the South during Jim Crow, and she also KNEW slaves, as did my late Father.

Mom reached in her wallet, pulled out her Driver's license, then she went into her glove compartment, pulled out her registration, where she paid for the tags/Insurance and bill showing where she PAID IN FULL for her Ford Mustang (White top, Highland Green in color) at the dealership.

Believe me, our WHOLE family when younger, has run into problems with "PIGS" for DECADES here in California.

[BeckyDem]

2. Considering the police serve for the public good, at least allegedly, would it not be a sound

standard to screen applicants for overt racism? Just sayin'....looks like many stand out, probably not hard to find.


They joked about “gassing” Jewish people, assaulting members of the LGBTQ community, using violence against suspects and lying during an investigation into a police shooting, according to district attorney’s office records reviewed by The Times.

[Lunabell]

4. And they wonder why we need to defund the police.

There needs to be an overhaul of police and police unions. Full of racist thugs.

[Hortensis]

5. "Defund" means social workers would respond to reports

that grandpa got out and can't be found and to ER reports of patients who'll be unable to care for themselves if released to go home (i.e, first step to getting them expedited help).

The PD of a nearby red GA county "defunded" various services inappropriate and unnecessary for armed law enforcement officers to respond to a long time ago, but those changes were not expected to affect standards of police behavior and did not. Apples and oranges.