Venice Beach Crime: LAPD Goes Undercover to Infiltrate The Funky 'Drum Circle'

By Dennis Romero Mon., May 9 2011 at 12:31 PM

Tony Vera / YouTube

Drum-da-drum-drum.

The Venice beach drum circle, a Sunday spectacle of rhythm and body odor, is now home to six undercover police officers, according to Associated Press.

This after a springtime of violence in the afternoon circles that have included a stabbing and fights. On one weekend alone in April a man was critically shot near Ocean Front Walk and three fights broke out in the drum circle.

We first reported that the LAPD was cracking down on crime along the beach, and that it has. What we can't fathom is how these cops prepare for undercover drum circle duty:

The hardship must be more intense than Navy Seal "hell week," because drum circle participants are some funky people. Here's what we believe to be the LAPD preparation for such an assignment:

-Don't shower for at least five days (sorry wife and kids).
-Expose your hair repeatedly to burning incense and pot smoke.
-Don't brush your teeth. Make sure they're yellow, gray or brown, or they'll know you're a narc.
-Start shit with people for no apparent reason.
-Pick up on women even though there are holes in your shorts (there must be holes in your shorts).

But seriously, Sgt. Marc Reina told AP the circle has been an issue for a few years, and he said that a sexual assault took place there three years ago.

Some in the community, as we previously noted, are blaming the apparent rise in crime along the beach to young transients. AP:

Nomadic bands of youths who used to pass through Venice have taken up residence in alleyways, living off panhandling, theft and resale of medical marijuana from boardwalk dispensaries.

Tags:

boardwalk, crime, drum circle, LAPD, Ocean Front Walk, Pacific Division, undercover, Venice

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limpia

wow,venice oughta get its act together

Laurieprecht

How unfortunate that the writer of this article, Dennis Romero, has been rude to the drummers by implying that they are unwashed and unethical people. I suppose that bloggers, unlike reporters, need not follow the rules of journalism when it comes to presenting opinions.

Lightnapper

Hey, 25-to-life-- "And the beat goes on!" They're watching you.

thomasjcoleman

Indeed: let's see if the undercover drummers can keep to the beat--"It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing."

Lightnapper

LAPD fields the Los Angeles Police Concert Band, and as far as orchestration goes, they ain't half bad. I particuarly like their rendition of "The Blue and The Gray," so I think a few long-hair UC's will be able to "step to the Beat," seing how it keeps them from walking one. Motivation is 90 percent of that particular assignment anyway. What I really want to watch is the newest game afoot in the notorious Drum Circle-- "Spot the Narc."

thomasjcoleman

A sexual assault three years ago. Nomadic bands of youth taking up residence in alleyways. That's old news for us who live here though obviously aggravated by the rotten economy. Wow, I guess after avoiding it all this time we have to finally deal with these Lions and Tigers and Bears, don't we? Time for another massive crackdown and undercover operation apparently. Looks like enough contrived melodrama for at least a "reality" series or two.