Chief Says LAPD 'Bewildered' But 'Motivated' To Protect Public In Wake Of Police Killings

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck said Monday the recent deadly ambushes on police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas have left his officers "bewildered," but they remain "motivated" to protect the public.

"I spent a lot of time in the last few days with my patrol force," Beck said. "I find them to be, as we all are, a little bit bewildered by what's going on around the nation, and how that possibly could be anybody's idea of a solution for the issues at hand."

But he also found the officers are "still motivated, still believing in service, still believing in doing the right thing. And I think they will continue to do that," Beck added.

The chief admitted the recent cop killings have taken a toll on himself and his officers. He said he was "stunned" by the shootings in Baton Rouge and found the events to be "not only professionally vexing, but emotionally taxing."

"To see that happen again - to see the absolutely senseless act against men and women who are trying desperately to keep a community safe - is very distressing," he said.

Beck called for greater compassion from both sides, saying "this is a time for empathy."

"I think this is a time to understand that everybody has legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. But you don't address those things through violence," he said. "Violence doesn't solve issues of violence."

There are no known specific threats against police officers in Los Angeles, other than general threats that may inspire copycats, Beck said.

Nevertheless, the LAPD has beefed up resources to support its officers. The extra precautions include doubling air assets, assigning officers from the elite Metropolitan Division to back up responding patrol officers and adding more people to help screen 911 calls to ensure "we're not responding to false calls to lure officers to an ambush," according to the police chief.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers, issued a statement saying "Our police officers deserve your strongest support and undivided attention. Now that 10 law enforcement officers have been murdered in 10 days, what will you to keep our communities safe?"

"In just over one week's time, this nation has seen its law enforcement officers targeted, hunted and murdered again. We cannot keep our neighborhoods safe if the men and women we ask to protect our communities face ambush around any potential street corner. These officers paid the ultimate sacrifice for simply doing their job. The families of police officers are living in fear each day their loved ones don their uniform and reports for duty.  This must end."

The statement also criticized what it called as "anti-police activists."

"To the anti police activists, whose apparent sole focus is to lay blame for all the ills of society on those who wear a law enforcement uniform, save your statement of `condolence' to the families of these slain officers unless it is accompanied by the same level of outrage and contempt exhibited after recent officer-involved shootings," the League stated. "Anything less would be hypocritical."