Legacy of Rodney King, 10 Years Later

L O S  A N G E L E S, March 3 -- It was 10 years ago today that Rodney Kingwas beaten in what became an enduring symbol of police brutalityand a flashpoint for racial tensions.

It also proved to be the first in a series of blows that haveshattered the reputation of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Mere mention of the 1991 beating causes those in power to cringeas they recall the morning the city awoke to a chilling video ofthe black motorist being clubbed and kicked over and over by fourwhite police officers as he writhed in agony on the ground.

The video, made by an onlooker, shocked the public and ledPolice Chief Daryl Gates to condemn the officers' actions.

But that was just the beginning. There would be three trials — one of them ending in the conviction of two officers — and theworst race riot Los Angeles had ever seen. When the smoke clearedon May 2, 1992, 55 people were dead and 2,383 were injured. Damagewas put at $1 billion.

Gates was driven from the LAPD. Commissions were empaneled andmade wide-ranging recommendations for reform.

‘Grim Picture for the LAPD’

Yet in the years to come, reform efforts would be overshadowedby events that would further damage the police force whosereputation for integrity and excellence was burnished by TV showslike Dragnet and Adam-12.

The King beating was followed by criticism of how police handledthe 1992 riots and later the O.J. Simpson case. And now, thedepartment is struggling with a corruption scandal in its Rampartdivision that has led to more than 100 convictions beingoverturned.

"Rodney King was about police abuse, O.J. was about policeincompetence, and Rampart is about police corruption. That's apretty grim picture for the LAPD," said Laurie Levenson, a LoyolaUniversity Law School professor. "What Rodney King taught us isyou can't ignore the problems and hope they will go away."

District Attorney Steve Cooley, who was elected in November andwhose office is prosecuting the Rampart corruption cases, saidmorale on the LAPD has been devastated.