North Hollywood Bank of America shootout

[kirch]

I searched several different forums to see if there has been some recent discussion on this topic and couldn't find much. I apologize in advance if I'm beating a dead dog here.

This came to mind because I happened to catch a show on The Learning Channel or The Discovery Channel or something like that this past weekend. Part of it was about the shootout in North Hollywood. As I watched the footage (much of which I hadn't seen before) I started thinking back to when that happened. And I thought to myself how quickly that story seemed to die in the media after it was over. Normally an event of that magnitude would have been dissected over and over again by the network news, the news magazine shows, Geraldo and anyone else in the business for weeks. But, IIRC, it only took a few days for the media to find other things to focus on. In fact, it wasn't until I did an internet search the other day that I even saw the names of the bank robbers.

Am I off my rocker, suffering from agge-induced memory lapses or was there some rhyme or reason to this?

[CinaC]

The media didn't even mention word one when the mom of one of the two robbers sued the LAPD ... I heard it on LoveLine.

[occiferdave]

Kirch,

NH was covered pretty well here in the LA area.

What you didn't see on TV was:

* Airships with bullet holes
* Dispatcher crying while dispatching
* A wounded officer runs in a dental office and the dentist gives first aid
* Officer Futrell had to finance his home to pay for defending himself from the robber's wrongful death lawsuit.
* Cops running in to B&B guns (which closed this month) to obtain assault rifles and ammo because they were outgunned.

One of the most intense fire-fights in police history.... I still get chills thinking about the fading voice of a down officer and the crying dispatcher that encouraged him....

You can read some of the radio traffic transcript HERE

Here's a sample of the radio traffic


..

[kd5hqd]

That gave me chills


Tex
KD5HQD

[MacLeod]

That transcript makes chilling reading.

Wear your vests.

Mac

[PelicanDriver]

occiferdave,

B&B closed? That's too bad, it was a great place.

I was working that day, but since we had no ground units on scene, we kept our target...I mean helocopter far away.

[Signal 24]

.

[ 04-12-2002: Message edited by: Cowardtn ]

[BeatleFan]

That transcript was horrifying. I can't stop crying and I am not the crying type. I don't know how in the hell you all keep doing this job every day. For what it's worth, here's one civilian who is eternally grateful for the job you all do every day...for the risks you take...for making yourselves a target just by putting on the uniform. Good Lord, please be careful...all of you.

[SpecOpsWarrior]

I remember watching the North Hollywood shootout on one of the networks, I dont remember if it was broadcast live or just a few minutes afterward. It was truly horrifying.

I also remember alot of media coverage for awhile after that incident, and I remember alot of media coverage praising the LAPD and the officers involved. Considering the amount of rounds fired and the area in which the shootout happend, it's amazing that the only two casualties were the suspects.

[LeeRoy]

LAPD's training unit made a video documentary that I think OfficerDave is referring too. I would think it would be available to any police agency that wants to use it for training. Good thing to show when your city council/mayor questions why cops need to have quick access to long guns.

[CinaC]

I took a class with a PG County Cop a few years back -- he drove an unmarked unit, and had either an M-16 or an M-4 strapped to the roof. All the Howard and Baltimore County cruisers I've seen have shotguns.

[CinaC]

There's a bit on the robbery/shooting right now on TLC ... and yes, mention is made that officers raided a gun store for more powerful weapons.

[ 04-13-2002: Message edited by: CrazyinaJeep ]

[shooter1201]

I remember hearing about an ASSistant DA that wanted to prosecute the LAPD officers that got the weapons from B&B. Something about violating the 'waiting period'. I kid you not.

[Watchman]

"I remember hearing about an ASSistant DA that wanted to prosecute the LAPD officers that got the weapons from B&B. Something about violating the 'waiting period'. I kid you not."

Typical California reasoning. Lets prosecute the surivivors for not waiting a week to get some decent weapons in which to defend themselves with. Sounds to me that the real problem lies with the DA's that would rather make some kind of political statment instead of prosecuting real crimes.

Danged lawyers. Lets give them a choice. Lets let them get into a gun fight against automatic AK's and give them a couple of mags and a Davis .22's to shoot.

Or we can stake them out in the California desert and left there for the buzzards to eat them ,little by little, piece by peice.

[shooter1201]

I think even buzzards have their limitations as to what they'll eat.