Los Angeles (KNX) - L.A. County DA George Gascón promised to be much tougher on cases involving police officer use of force. For the most part, he has attempted to fulfill that promise, but he has had difficulty winning convictions in those cases.
So, is DA Gascón really tougher on police use of force?
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James Crowley, who covers crime and policing for the Los Angeles Times, believes that despite Gascón's decision not to prosecute two LA County Sheriff's deputies involved in controversial shootings on Friday, he has made good on his promise.
Crowley tells KNX reporter Charles Feldman, "[DA Gascón] either filed charges or won an indictment in at least seven on-duty shootings involving police agencies in LA County since he took office."
These numbers have only been seen twice in the past two decades, "So he has certainly moved to bring cases more frequently than his predecessors," James says.
James does admit that while Gascón is way more aggressive in filing, his success rate in court has yet to be seen - with most of his cases not yet adjudicated.
And what does James make of the decision not to move forward with those two LASD-involved shootings?
He says it isn't necessarily a reflection of Gascón backing down but rather a lack of video evidence, leaving the outcome to hinge on the deputy's narrative, "which is, of course, going to be beneficial to them," James said.
KNX News contacted Gascón's office for comment, but they have yet to reply.
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