The Denny Beating Trail: The Verdicts : Community Members React to Verdicts

T o San Fernando Valley residents and civic leaders, the verdicts in the Denny beating trial represented a triumph for American justice, a “politically correct” outrage or the ambiguous ending of a chapter in Los Angeles history that should be pushed into the past as rapidly as possible.

A random sampling of opinion on the verdicts turned up both praise and condemnation, as well as sorrow.

Some examples:

The Rev. Zedar E. Broadous of Pacoima, president of the Valley chapter of the NAACP:

“My hat is off to the jury. Based on the way the trial went and the information they were given . . . those should have been the original charges--assault. I don’t see where premeditated murder was involved.

“Clearly they committed a crime, and when you commit a crime you should be charged. The real issue for the minority community is our treatment within the legal system.

“I think that we’ve seen the courts at their best . . . Our system has some flaws--many flaws--but the system in and of itself is a good system. Overall, it’s relieving to see our system work.”

Ron McCoy, 18, Reseda High School senior:

“It was a racist double standard. It was obvious that they were guilty. We saw him hit the guy on the head with a brick, for God’s sake. The jury thought if they were convicted, then all the black people would riot again. It’s time we stopped trying to be politically correct and just try to do what is right. I’m disillusioned with the justice system.”

Lance Cohn, 16, Reseda High School junior:

“The jurors are so scared of what happened last year, they just don’t want to see it happen again. People talk about ending racism, but this is just totally unfair and totally racist. If whites did that, we’d all be labeled racist.”

Michael Blake, 18, Reseda High School senior:

“It makes me feel like I can beat up anybody I want--like there are no laws. They beat people with bricks and got off. Who are we looking to please?”

Miriam Peniche, 16, Reseda High School junior:

“What they’re doing to the justice system is a joke. How much more evidence do you want? It was right there on the camera, clear as water. They’re wasting all this money and time, for what?”

Deputy Police Chief Mark A. Kroeker, who commands the LAPD’s five Valley divisions:

“As police officers, we’re law officers and our obligation is to support the law and the criminal justice system. We keep our personal opinions to ourselves, especially at a time when there’s an intensity of attention in the city. I’d rather start looking toward 1994 and hope that this city can pull together and we can put every one of these chapters behind us, including this one.”

Julian Martinez, 67, Pacoima:

“I think it’s fine. They should not be punished more severely than the two police officers (sentenced to prison for beating Rodney King). This is balanced justice. None of the rioting would have occurred if the police officers had been properly convicted in the Simi Valley trial.”

Jim Rodriguez, 37, San Fernando:

“This shows that there is no justice. They should have been convicted, just like the peace officers should have been convicted. In both cases, it shows that you can do something on videotape and get away with it.”

Simon Choi, manager of Hot Dog Hacienda in San Fernando:

“That’s not fair. They hit that man. If I’m on that jury I’d find them guilty.”

Jeannie Endsley, 81, Lake View Terrace:

“I think they were very fair. I think the jury did an excellent job.”

Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, who represents Sherman Oaks and parts of Van Nuys::

“I really haven’t been following it day-to-day, so I can’t say if I’m surprised or not. I haven’t seen a lot of my constituents today so I don’t know what their reaction is.

“I think it will be mixed. They’ll be relieved that it’s over but probably not agree with the leniency of the verdicts. The main thing is to get this episode behind us and get to the work of rebuilding this city to where it was, emotionally and physically.”

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Laura Chick, who represents the southwestern part of the Valley:

“I believe in the jury system and this is how it has played out. That they could come to an agreement is positive. I’m ready for true healing and it’s time to move on. I believe the jurors did the best they could.”

Barbara Perkins, president of the Valley chapter of the National Council of Negro Women:

“I’m relieved and I certainly hope we can go forward and get on with this business of rebuilding. I really do think the rebuilding is going to happen, not with buildings but with people--people feeling safe again and feeling they can trust the system and I’m really ready for that. I’m just ready for us not to have that line that divides us.

“The visibility of this trial and the other trial (of the two police officers)” . . . will make a difference because people understand that whatever they do, they are going to be held accountable--no matter who they are.”

Police Sgt. Dennis Zine, police union activist assigned to the Valley Traffic Division and unsuccessful candidate for the City Council in the April elections:

“Our criminal justice system is deteriorating--the decisions, the verdicts are politically correct. No longer does it seem that justice is blind. Justice is swayed by the political climate at that particular moment.

“I look at the two Detroit officers going to prison and (former LAPD officers Stacey C.) Koon and (Laurence M.) Powell going to prison, when the officers are the representatives of government. . . . Then you have a situation where a mob scene takes over and you have innocent people victimized by urban terrorism. Those defendants are convicted of minor charges, and the major charges are dismissed. It’s a reflection on . . . how perilous it is to be a law enforcement officer in this day and age.

“It seems bizarre that an innocent motorist and the other motorists were assaulted and brutalized during a mob scene and the criminals who perpetrated those crimes are not held accountable. . . . I wonder if the federal courts will file civil rights charges against those individuals as they did with the police officers.”