A Los Angeles Police Commission meeting descended into disorder on Tuesday as a group of agitators halted proceedings with hostile chants and targeted a journalist attempting to cover the event.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners convened for a regular meeting, only to be interrupted by approximately 40 individuals chanting anti-police slogans and disrupting the session. The group, many concealing their identities with masks or scarves, brought the meeting to a standstill until order was restored. Additionally, California Post reporter Jamie Paige faced insults and physical attempts to block her camera while documenting the public event.

The disruption escalated during the public comment segment, where strict rules against profanity and personal attacks were ignored as speakers shouted derogatory terms at officers and commissioners.

Recurring Disruptions Plague Public Meetings

This incident is part of a recurring pattern, as the Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors noted that such interruptions have plagued these meetings for years, according to the New York Post. The board oversees the Los Angeles Police Department as the city’s primary civilian oversight body, established in the 1920s with five mayor-appointed members.

The issue has sparked debate over the balance between free expression and maintaining order at public forums meant for serious policy discussion. It’s troubling to see a venue for transparent governance repeatedly derailed by coordinated hostility.

During the meeting, Commissioner Rasha Gerges Shields questioned LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell about a recent court ruling limiting the use of certain less-lethal crowd-control tools like 40mm projectile launchers. McDonnell noted that demonstrations in the city have been “primarily peaceful” since the ruling. Yet, he cautioned that these restrictions reduce options for creating distance in tense situations, potentially increasing risks of deadly force, while the department seeks alternatives.

This exchange seemed to ignite further unrest, as agitators grew louder, with some familiar faces known for disrupting City Hall events taking center stage. Many of these activists had recently attended a city-sanctioned presentation hosted by DSA Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez. It’s worth asking whether such official platforms embolden behavior that undermines civic discourse.

Journalist Targeted Amid Hostile Outbursts

California Post’s Jamie Paige bore the brunt of the hostility, with agitators yelling to block her filming and refusing to engage when offered a chance to comment. The hypocrisy of demanding transparency while silencing press coverage is glaring. One unidentified speaker even shouted, “Record the pigs. Do not record the people,” revealing a selective view of accountability.

Among the most vocal was activist Jason Reedy, who spoke from the podium with his young daughter beside him, repeatedly using derogatory language toward officers and accusing the department of systemic cover-ups. Seeing children present during such vitriolic outbursts raises questions about the environment being created at these public events.

Other speakers, including a representative from the Sidewalk Project, an activist group contracted by the city for outreach at MacArthur Park, accused police of grave misconduct in the fatal shooting of transgender sex worker Linda Becerra Moran on Feb. 7. Police reported Moran was armed with a knife and rushed at officers despite commands to drop it while responding to her own kidnapping call. This tragic case deserves scrutiny, but inflammatory rhetoric risks drowning out constructive dialogue.

Citizen Feels Unsafe During Disruption

The hostility wasn’t limited to officials or press; a woman unaffiliated with the group told the commission she felt unsafe due to the shouting and aggression. She expressed feeling threatened and requested a citizen’s arrest, highlighting how the environment intimidated regular attendees.

Commission staff repeatedly urged the audience to stop interrupting, with one staffer pleading for calm to no avail. The disregard for basic decorum turned a forum for community input into a shouting match.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League condemned the recurring disruptions, arguing that these actions mock the democratic process. Their frustration is palpable, and it’s hard to disagree when weekly meetings meant to shape public safety policy are hijacked by chaos.

Balancing Free Speech and Order

Public meetings must remain open to dissent, but there’s a line between protest and obstruction. When rules against profanity and disruption are flouted, and journalists are targeted, the space for meaningful debate shrinks.

The challenge for the Police Commission is clear: how to preserve access for all voices while ensuring proceedings aren’t derailed by a vocal few. Los Angeles deserves better than a weekly spectacle where policy is sidelined by hostility. It’s time for stricter enforcement of meeting rules to protect both democracy and decorum.