LAPD Computer Messages

The Christopher Commission reviewed printouts of computer messages between officers in all 18 divisions of the Los Angeles Police Department from Nov. 1, 1989 to March 4, 1991--one day after the police beating of Rodney G. King.

The Commission culled 1,450 offensive messages indicating biases against minorities, women and homosexuals, as well as improper attitudes about violence. Some 700 of the messages were compiled in a supplemental report released Wednesday. Here are examples of the computer messages, using the spelling and grammar in the transcriptions. The following contains language some readers may find offensive.

RACE “ . . . by the way do you still have that KKK meeting on Friday . . . “ “This call at (address omitted) is it safe for me.” “Should be . . . its north of the jungle . . . if it dosent look good . . . don’t go.” “We have taken a few El Salvadorians for a night on the city. One for calling us obscene, lewd, indecent words . . . “ “I hate these foreigners: from the Middle East . . . this guy is probably gonna beef me . . . “ “I feel like I’m in Africa.” “Monkeys in the trees, monkeys in the trees, hi ho dario monkeys in the trees.” “He is telling me about it now this is great two chinks humping . . . “ “Nothing but wetbacks no speaky English and ugly.” “It was prob some Armenian that was trying to bbq his dog and missed with the knief.” “They are Indian, the towel head kind, not the feather kind . . . “ “Orientals and females drive the same.” “He didn’t like that a ni--er was driving a brand new vette.” I spoke to Sgt (name omitted) who said we did a outstanding job . . . with those Jamician junebugs.”

WOMEN “The best wife beating I’ve ever seen . . . looks like a whipped slave.” “They found something that does the work of 5 women . . . 1 man.”

EXCESSIVE FORCE “Why didja do it . . . you don’t have to beat all of your arrestees up . . . “ “I knew Joe would beat somebody by the end of the night. Here we are getting MT (medical treatment) at OliveView.” “Oh Oh . . . where did ya go? We have a guy in jail, who needs an attitude adjustment . . . so the sarges went to see he got one . . . hahahah.” “Why not I love alley sweps, especially if they dont want to move . . . Hammer time . . . “ “I don’t hit people, I shoot them.” “I yelled at him, humiliated him, and kick in the television tube . . . problem solved.”

SHOOTING OF SUSPECTS “My shooting policy is based on nationality and looks.” “Marc . . . up to number 43 tasers so far . . . got concelled again . . . made use of force list for the year and proud of it . . . “

HOMOSEXUALS “I can’t believe fish can change sexes in a week. “ “Ya . . . drag queens would be bummed . . . “ “How’s the faggotts treating you.” “Did your fag have Aids . . . probably they all do . . . jail is the perfect place for him . . . hes around all those males . . . boy is he lucky.”