Comments on: Repeating lies: How Officer Cho threw his superiors under a bus. http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/ Resistance is futile. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:49:32 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: bikejuju http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2414 bikejuju Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:36:49 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2414 A nicely written and thoughtful post. Thanks for the update. Having just watched 5 seasons on The Wire in about five weeks kind of colors my perception of this incident, but I think you are right to take a nuanced view about what may be going on in the politics of the situation. Who really knows what various players hope to gain by taking various positions in a highly politically charged situation like this one - they doubtless have relationships and strategies (interpersonal, career, moral, political, PR) that are not apparent to outsiders. A nicely written and thoughtful post. Thanks for the update. Having just watched 5 seasons on The Wire in about five weeks kind of colors my perception of this incident, but I think you are right to take a nuanced view about what may be going on in the politics of the situation. Who really knows what various players hope to gain by taking various positions in a highly politically charged situation like this one – they doubtless have relationships and strategies (interpersonal, career, moral, political, PR) that are not apparent to outsiders.

]]> By: Iain Marjoribanks http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2413 Iain Marjoribanks Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:23:59 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2413 "a kind of Alex Thompson of the LAPD" Good one. A very well-written story, Alex. “a kind of Alex Thompson of the LAPD”

Good one. A very well-written story, Alex.

]]> By: Latest in de-car-ing: Contest for L.A.’s most transit-friendly community — and the opposite of de-car-ing. | green LA girl http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2412 Latest in de-car-ing: Contest for L.A.’s most transit-friendly community — and the opposite of de-car-ing. | green LA girl Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:39:01 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2412 [...] charges that may be brought in the case would be because of damage to the hummer.  Streetsblog, WestSide BikeSIDE and LAist all take a look at the hearing and LAPD’s [...] [...] charges that may be brought in the case would be because of damage to the hummer.  Streetsblog, WestSide BikeSIDE and LAist all take a look at the hearing and LAPD’s [...]

]]> By: Dogbone30 http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2411 Dogbone30 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:30:40 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2411 Clearly the LAPD does not have all of their facts straight. They don't know the law with regard to bicyclists, the rules of the road, and our rights to the roadway but I think most of the issues are the result of poor training rather then any malice or bias against us. With regard to the whole Hummer thing...how relevant is it that the guy did not have a license plate. It may explain why the cyclists surrounded the Hummer, but it does not in any way address the driver's suppossed reason for fleeing. I don't know if the guy was really afraid but if fear is his excuse(and while it may not be true it is at least plausible) than the LAPD's position would not be any different. You can say that the LAPD should be more prepared and should have known the facts but then the issue becomes the LAPD rather then the driver. In any case I am reserving judgement until I know a little more. I've been on a few rides and had near misses. Most of them were because of some stupid drivers...but there have been times were I would have been at fault because I was a little wasted. Does anyone know if this was a booze ride? Whats the story on the independant witness? Even if the cop is anti-bike whats the motive behind the witnesses statement? Does the kid who got hit have a lawyer? Is he suing the driver for his damages? I would be interested in finding out what comes out of any civil action. Just my thoughts. Clearly the LAPD does not have all of their facts straight. They don’t know the law with regard to bicyclists, the rules of the road, and our rights to the roadway but I think most of the issues are the result of poor training rather then any malice or bias against us.

With regard to the whole Hummer thing…how relevant is it that the guy did not have a license plate. It may explain why the cyclists surrounded the Hummer, but it does not in any way address the driver’s suppossed reason for fleeing. I don’t know if the guy was really afraid but if fear is his excuse(and while it may not be true it is at least plausible) than the LAPD’s position would not be any different. You can say that the LAPD should be more prepared and should have known the facts but then the issue becomes the LAPD rather then the driver. In any case I am reserving judgement until I know a little more.

I’ve been on a few rides and had near misses. Most of them were because of some stupid drivers…but there have been times were I would have been at fault because I was a little wasted. Does anyone know if this was a booze ride?

Whats the story on the independant witness? Even if the cop is anti-bike whats the motive behind the witnesses statement?

Does the kid who got hit have a lawyer? Is he suing the driver for his damages? I would be interested in finding out what comes out of any civil action.

Just my thoughts.

]]> By: The continuing saga of the LAPD/Hummer/Cyclist situation | Los Angeles Metblogs http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2410 The continuing saga of the LAPD/Hummer/Cyclist situation | Los Angeles Metblogs Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:05:16 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2410 [...] been ongoing investigations and more and more questions from city officials about this, and over on WSBS Alex has been documenting each step of the way. In his newest post, he discusses how it seems LAPD [...] [...] been ongoing investigations and more and more questions from city officials about this, and over on WSBS Alex has been documenting each step of the way. In his newest post, he discusses how it seems LAPD [...]

]]> By: Richtotheie http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2409 Richtotheie Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:47:01 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2409 I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, AT. You have skills. Fer Cerlery Skills. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, AT. You have skills. Fer Cerlery Skills.

]]> By: Enci http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2408 Enci Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:20:35 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2408 Very well written! Thank you! Very well written! Thank you!

]]> By: Damien Newton http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2407 Damien Newton Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:01:45 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2407 "The Blue Wall" is a reference to how the police close ranks to protect each other even when they're clearly in the wrong. Great job, Alex. “The Blue Wall” is a reference to how the police close ranks to protect each other even when they’re clearly in the wrong.

Great job, Alex.

]]> By: The amulet from which I gain my super powers « BikingInLA http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2406 The amulet from which I gain my super powers « BikingInLA Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:31:06 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2406 [...] evidently suffered only minor damage from the cyclist. LAist covers the meeting as well, and Alex rebuts most of the LAPD’s report — including offering a photo proving the Hummer had no plates, despite what the report claimed. [...] [...] evidently suffered only minor damage from the cyclist. LAist covers the meeting as well, and Alex rebuts most of the LAPD’s report — including offering a photo proving the Hummer had no plates, despite what the report claimed. [...]

]]> By: Nate http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2405 Nate Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:04:48 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2405 What's the reference to the Blue Wall? I can infer what it mean... - Just a little ignorant on this... What’s the reference to the Blue Wall? I can infer what it mean…

- Just a little ignorant on this…

]]> By: Alex Thompson http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2404 Alex Thompson Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:48:03 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2404 I think it's both. These guys end up looking idiotic because, as part of the blue wall, they defend without question, a bad report. In that sense, it's the blue wall. But - I think it shows us an interesting feature of the blue wall - overtly bad policing in the context of the blue wall can lead to embarrassment. In a sense, the nature of the blue wall is going to ultimately lead to Cho suffering more than he would otherwise. If LAPD were open and willing to discuss mistakes, then Cho's report would be acknowledged as such sooner, and would be just one in a long line of mistakes that LAPD has made. But, since it cannot be acknowledged as such (due to the blue wall), command staff will go on being embarrassed and more negative attention will be drawn to Cho than would otherwise. Sorry if I'm not making sense - I'm trying. My hunch is that there are leaders within LAPD who are frustrated with the blue wall. I think it’s both. These guys end up looking idiotic because, as part of the blue wall, they defend without question, a bad report. In that sense, it’s the blue wall. But – I think it shows us an interesting feature of the blue wall – overtly bad policing in the context of the blue wall can lead to embarrassment. In a sense, the nature of the blue wall is going to ultimately lead to Cho suffering more than he would otherwise. If LAPD were open and willing to discuss mistakes, then Cho’s report would be acknowledged as such sooner, and would be just one in a long line of mistakes that LAPD has made. But, since it cannot be acknowledged as such (due to the blue wall), command staff will go on being embarrassed and more negative attention will be drawn to Cho than would otherwise.

Sorry if I’m not making sense – I’m trying. My hunch is that there are leaders within LAPD who are frustrated with the blue wall.

]]> By: KateNonymous http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2403 KateNonymous Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:43:58 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2403 Is this a case of Officer Cho throwing his superiors under a bus, or just another example of the Blue Wall? Is this a case of Officer Cho throwing his superiors under a bus, or just another example of the Blue Wall?

]]> By: SoapBoxLA http://www.bikesidela.org/stars-under-the-bus/comment-page-1/#comment-2402 SoapBoxLA Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:31:29 +0000 http://www.westsidebikeside.com/stars-under-the-bus/#comment-2402 Well said! Well said!

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