LAPD Discipline Nears for King Beating Onlookers

Four months after the police beating of Rodney G. King, the Los Angeles Police Department has begun making recommendations for disciplining some of the 17 officers who were present at the scene but did not intervene.

According to a lawyer for the officers, at least two of them--both rookies on probation--have been notified that the department wants to fire them. Attorney Diane Marchant said that the department has recommended a five-day suspension for another rookie officer, and has recommended that a fourth rookie be cleared.

In addition, Marchant said, two veteran officers have been notified that they face penalties serious enough to warrant a hearing before a three-member disciplinary tribunal, known as a board of rights.

She said she could not be more specific and did not know the outcome of investigations regarding the 11 other LAPD officers at the scene. Nor would she release the officers’ names.

Police officials declined comment, saying that Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins, who is presiding over the trial of four officers indicted in the King beating, has placed a gag order on them.