Can we really trust what the media feeds us? Is there more of the story they do not want us to know? Are the sources even accurate? Can sources be tested? Christopher Dorner would say the sources of his case could not be trusted. He was terminated from his position at the Los Angeles Police Department in 2009 for accusing his training officer of abusing an mentally handicapped man during an arrest(Smith). Dorner has now declared war on his former employers, their families, and numerous others in his “last resort”(Demby). This is the stuff movies are made of: cover up, conspiracy, perspectivly justifiable homicide, self-defense, brutality, massive manhunts, explosions, and of course, the LAPD.
Dorner was not the one who would be the target of a massive man hunt, and set the entire city of Los Angles on edge. Friends and family were more than shocked. College friend Jamie Usera, told the Los Angles times “he was the last guy who would end up in this kind of situation”(Risling and Abdollah). Is it possible that a man of his character just went crazy? Or is there more to the story? Would a man of such character attack those involved with “unconventional and asymmetrical warfare(Mather, Lopez).”
Dorner was a police officer; he knew the tactics of the authorities as well as they did(Risling, Abdollah). The investigation has had its fair share of bad information: from misleading phone calls, to bad tips(Mather, Lopez). They had his whereabouts spread from as far north as Vancouver, Washington to as far south as San Diego, California. Speculation was even made that he might try to flee to Mexico. Authorities were searching the vehicles of motorists crossing the border(Smith).
Interesting to point out that every article speaks of the manifesto, but none of these news sources have a link to it. More of a letter, addressed to the American people to tell them of the reasons he believes he has no choice but to wage war on the LAPD. He is completely justified in his own mind that the actions he is taking are completely necessary. Only now, amid the chaos, and fear will he be heard. The LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck announced that they will be re-examining the claims Dorner made in the manifesto.
Was it the dramatic “act of domestic terrorism” as called by Beck(Smith), enough to accomplish what Dorner desired? Or is it just a political move by a police chief who has a city on the edge of panic? A rogue cop goes on a killing spree does not make his job easy. He must find a way to keep the streets of LA quiet. The Rodney King incident set the city ablaze with riots in 1992 due to police brutality. It has been a problem in the past, which Chief Beck referred to as the “ghosts of their past”(Smith). Has it been dealt with, as Beck would like to say, or is it still a rampant problem? Is it possible that Dorner was just trying to do the right thing, in the wrong way?
Los Angles, California is like no other place in the United States of America. It has had a long history of violence, crime, and death. From gangs, to police corruption it has carved out a reputation all of its own. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told CNN reporters that he “will not tolerate anyone undermining the security, the tranquility of our neighborhoods and our communities. We will not tolerate this reign of terror that has robbed us of the peace of mind that residents of Southern California deserve. We will not tolerate this murderer remaining at large(Smith).”
There are many questions and mysteries surrounding this story. Today, the manhunt has ended, but the story of Christopher Dorner has only begun. Were his allegations true? Was he unjustifiably terminated? Is the media being honest in its coverage of the story? Is the source, the Los Angles Police Department being honest? Is police brutality a “ghost of their past? Or a hidden blemish, buried just beneath the surface of propaganda? Truth always surfaces in time.
Works Cited
Risling, Greg. Abdollah, Tami. Hunt for Ex-Officer Goes on Amid California Snowstorm. Associated Press. 10 February 2013. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/search-covers-ca-ex-cop-believed-killer-3
Mather, Kate. Lopez, Robert. Dorner Manhunt: False Leads, Rumors Fly Over Ex-Cops Whereabouts. Los Angles Times. 10 February 2013. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/dorner-manhunt-false-leads-rumors-fly-over-ex-cops-whereabouts.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=649324
Demby, Gene. An Accused Killer Seeks an Audience with Everyone. NPR. 10 February 2013. http://www.npr.org/2013/02/09/171512481/an-accused-killer-seeks-an-audience-with-everyone
Smith, Matt. Los Angles Puts Up $1 Million Reward For Dorner. CNN. 10 February 2013. http://0-www.cnn.com.library.ccbcmd.edu/2013/02/10/us/lapd-attacks
Dorner was not the one who would be the target of a massive man hunt, and set the entire city of Los Angles on edge. Friends and family were more than shocked. College friend Jamie Usera, told the Los Angles times “he was the last guy who would end up in this kind of situation”(Risling and Abdollah). Is it possible that a man of his character just went crazy? Or is there more to the story? Would a man of such character attack those involved with “unconventional and asymmetrical warfare(Mather, Lopez).”
Dorner was a police officer; he knew the tactics of the authorities as well as they did(Risling, Abdollah). The investigation has had its fair share of bad information: from misleading phone calls, to bad tips(Mather, Lopez). They had his whereabouts spread from as far north as Vancouver, Washington to as far south as San Diego, California. Speculation was even made that he might try to flee to Mexico. Authorities were searching the vehicles of motorists crossing the border(Smith).
Interesting to point out that every article speaks of the manifesto, but none of these news sources have a link to it. More of a letter, addressed to the American people to tell them of the reasons he believes he has no choice but to wage war on the LAPD. He is completely justified in his own mind that the actions he is taking are completely necessary. Only now, amid the chaos, and fear will he be heard. The LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck announced that they will be re-examining the claims Dorner made in the manifesto.
Was it the dramatic “act of domestic terrorism” as called by Beck(Smith), enough to accomplish what Dorner desired? Or is it just a political move by a police chief who has a city on the edge of panic? A rogue cop goes on a killing spree does not make his job easy. He must find a way to keep the streets of LA quiet. The Rodney King incident set the city ablaze with riots in 1992 due to police brutality. It has been a problem in the past, which Chief Beck referred to as the “ghosts of their past”(Smith). Has it been dealt with, as Beck would like to say, or is it still a rampant problem? Is it possible that Dorner was just trying to do the right thing, in the wrong way?
Los Angles, California is like no other place in the United States of America. It has had a long history of violence, crime, and death. From gangs, to police corruption it has carved out a reputation all of its own. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told CNN reporters that he “will not tolerate anyone undermining the security, the tranquility of our neighborhoods and our communities. We will not tolerate this reign of terror that has robbed us of the peace of mind that residents of Southern California deserve. We will not tolerate this murderer remaining at large(Smith).”
There are many questions and mysteries surrounding this story. Today, the manhunt has ended, but the story of Christopher Dorner has only begun. Were his allegations true? Was he unjustifiably terminated? Is the media being honest in its coverage of the story? Is the source, the Los Angles Police Department being honest? Is police brutality a “ghost of their past? Or a hidden blemish, buried just beneath the surface of propaganda? Truth always surfaces in time.
Works Cited
Risling, Greg. Abdollah, Tami. Hunt for Ex-Officer Goes on Amid California Snowstorm. Associated Press. 10 February 2013. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/search-covers-ca-ex-cop-believed-killer-3
Mather, Kate. Lopez, Robert. Dorner Manhunt: False Leads, Rumors Fly Over Ex-Cops Whereabouts. Los Angles Times. 10 February 2013. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/dorner-manhunt-false-leads-rumors-fly-over-ex-cops-whereabouts.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=649324
Demby, Gene. An Accused Killer Seeks an Audience with Everyone. NPR. 10 February 2013. http://www.npr.org/2013/02/09/171512481/an-accused-killer-seeks-an-audience-with-everyone
Smith, Matt. Los Angles Puts Up $1 Million Reward For Dorner. CNN. 10 February 2013. http://0-www.cnn.com.library.ccbcmd.edu/2013/02/10/us/lapd-attacks