HATE CRIMES The mission of the Hate Crimes Task Force is the reduction of bias-
motivated violence and the accurate and full reporting of hate
crimes in Los Angeles County. The Task Force includes the Los
Association, the Los Angeles Dis-
trict Attorney's Office, Super- visor
Antonovich's office, the
cases because they are specific-
intent crimes, as well as victim
specific. Specific intent cases re-
Victims of hate crimes often do
not feel they can report such an of-
fense to authorities, without fear,
Members of the Task Force con-
tinue to receive requests to partici-
pate in, or speak at, different
Force were invited to speak at nu-
merous community and religious
meetings. They worked with the
Policing Services Office); been in-
volved in a panel discussion
for the Coalition for Humane Immi-
TASK FORCE Angeles County District Attorney's Office, the Federal Bureau of In-
vestigation, and the United States Attorney's Office, as well as rep-
resentatives from all law enforcement agencies within
Los Angeles Police Department,
and the Dean of the Simon Wiesen-
thal Center, Rabbi Marvin Hier. All
quire significantly more investiga-
tion and are more difficult to prove.
For example, what began as a rou-
due in part to a lack of knowledge
of laws or shame over being a
victim of this type of crime. Armed
training sessions and discussion
panels. Members of the team have
spoken at the Violence Prevention
media to help allay the tremendous
fears within affected communities
and to tackle the special problems
grant Rights of Los Angeles; spo-
ken to community and law
enforcement representatives from
Los Angeles County. speakers endorsed and applauded tine arson investigation led to a with this knowledge, the team Coalition of Greater Los Angeles' affecting each of those communi- the Community/Law Enforcement
the formation of the Task Force and possible hate crime. Here are the sought training that would give 5th Violence Prevention Confer- ties. They spoke at the Jewish Partnership Programs of the
MAJOR CRIMES BUREAU In the summer of 1999, after the Jewish Community Center shoot- the leadership shown by Sheriff specifics: After more than eight them the insight and sensitivity ence and the City of Artesia Law Federation, the Islamic Center of Los Angeles County Sheriff's De-
DETECTIVE DIVISION ing, the formation of the Hate Crimes Task Force became one of Baca. months and several hundred hours needed to successfully handle Enforcement breakfast; they have Southern California, the South partment; and held press confer-
Sheriff Lee Baca's top priorities. of investigation by two lead detec- each hate crime case. been interviewed on a live AT&T Asian Network, and the American ences which emphasize unity in
On April 1 of that same year, the tives, seventeen separate suspects cable television broadcast facili- Civil Liberties Union, and partici- combating hate crimes. During
On January 23, 2001, Sheriff Baca held a press conference at Los Angeles County Sheriff's De- were identified who were involved The Unit has been in service for the tated by the Southern Christian pated in two separate live "call-in" these press conferences, it was
the Simon Wiesenthal Center to announce the formation of the partment's Hate Crimes Task Force in more than 200 incidents. A five- past nine months, and in that time, Leadership Conference; and they radio programs. Additionally, the emphasized that the September
Hate Crimes Task Force. Present at the conference were Califor- began handling all hate crime location search warrant was the Hate Crimes Task Force has have attended meetings sponsored Task Force has been featured by 11th attack is not ever, in any way,
nia State Attorney General Bill Lockyer, along with representatives cases in the Department's jurisdic- served and specialized investiga- come together. With every passing by the National Association for two separate film crews wishing to an excuse for committing any hate
from the United States Attorney, the Federal Bureau tion. To date, more than 200 cases tors from Arson/Explosives, the day, they have gained experience Equal Justice in America. They capture information regarding such crime. The message of unity and
of Investigation (FBI), the Los Angeles County Chiefs of Police have been brought to the Task Hate Crimes Task Force, and the and expertise. They have received have also assisted independent a unique and high profile unit, es- zero tolerance has been repeatedly
Force's attention. Task Force High Tech Computer Crimes Task significant recognition within this cities with perceived racial prob- pecially during these unprece- expressed to the public.
members have developed Force assisted at each location. emerging field and have already lems and helped them establish dented times.
a strong working relationship A tremendous amount of evidence handled several high profile cases their own human relations commis- Members of the Sheriff's Hate
with the District Attorney's Office, was collected that was essential to which may not have had the same sion. Recently, the team sergeant Further, team members have spo- Crime Task Force are now moving
working closely with their prosecu- successful prosecution. All of this successful conclusion without the gave testimony before the Califor- ken at the Department of Fair Em- forward and assisting in the writing
tors. work paid off when each of the existence of such a dedicated Task nia State Assembly Select Commit- ployment and Housing "Hate of new legislation to secure fund-
suspects in that case pled guilty in Force. In a short period of time, the tee on Hate Crimes, sponsored by Violence" training, held in conjunc- ing to strengthen hate crime laws
A specialized and dedicated unit court. In addition to these cases, Task Force has been recognized lo- Assemblywoman Judy Chu. tion with the California State Bar and assist the California Depart-
was deemed necessary to properly each of the identified suspects was cally and nationally, and has been Association; participated in a na- ment of Justice in developing a
investigate and prosecute hate found to be involved in additionally called "a model for the rest of the Following the events of September tional conference call with the Statewide database to enable uni-
crimes since these cases require reported, as well as unreported, country." 11, 2001, members of the Task Safe Cities Network (Department of form reporting of hate crimes.
significantly more time than other hate crimes. Justice, Community Oriented
POST SEPTEMBER 11TH EVENTS
LASD HATE CRIME & INCIDENT LASD HATE CRIME & INCIDENT COMPARISON
COMPARISON BY MOTIVATION
BY YEAR (JANUARY - DECEMBER)
(JANUARY - DECEMBER) 20
300 160
1999
270 267 White supremacist displays his hate tatoos.
140
2000 15
240
Number of Events
120
Number of Incidents
Number of Incidents
210 182 47% 2001
180 100 10
150 143
80
120 5
60
90
40
60
20 0
30
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
0 0 WEEK
Multi-Bias
1999 2000 2001
Disab.-M
Ethnicity
Religion
Disab.-P
Gender
Sexual
Racial
Hate Incidents Hate Crimes
Sheriff Baca (right) with California Attorney General Bill Lockyer (left) and Pasadena Police Chief Bernard Melekian (center) TOTAL REGION I REGION II REGION III OTHER
at press conference announcing the formation of the Hate Crimes Task Force.
YEAR IN REVIEW 2001 DETECTIVE DIVISION 21 22 DETECTIVE DIVISION YEAR IN REVIEW 2001 YEAR IN REVIEW 2001 DETECTIVE DIVISION 23