Helicopters Buzzing Downtown Part of Joint Military Exercises Supported by LAPD

By Dennis Romero Tue., Jan. 24 2012 at 12:56 PM

lewisha1990

As if the downtown area isn't already alive with the sound of ghetto birds, the LAPD announced this week that it will be conducting exercises with U.S. Armed Forces.

And those nighttime exercises will include buzzing, ominous helicopters.

So don't trip out, crackhead at Fourth and Hill streets:

This is only a test.

The "joint military training exercises" being supported by our fine po-pos are being staged, in part, "to ensure the military's ability to operate in urban environments," according to an LAPD statement.

LAPD Facebook

They're happening tonight through Thursday.

And, just in case you planned to reach out and grab one of those Apaches, the LAPD warns:

... Safety precautions have been taken to prevent risk to the general public and the military personnel involved. As such, this training is not open to the public.

Darn.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

downtown Los Angeles, ghetto bird, helicopters, joint military exercise, LAPD

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Wendy Austin

just google joint military exercises in May. We have the new NDAA, we have the government buying 400,000,000 rounds of high grade ammo, we have ever increasing amounts of positions for "internment specialists". Gee, the conspiracy ain't a theory any more.

sharegyan001

If you are trading in NSE, BSE, MCX and in NCDEX then let sharegyan give you all stock trading gyan

Beth Kempf

Last monday when they flew all over was slightly disturbing... I know Skid row was all quiet and hiding, as we walked down to see some friends who are living there. Why on earth does the military need to train in LA?

Occupy Geoff Gordon

So what's the message of this to all Americans? "Don't look Uncle Sam in the eye or I will fill you with fucking lead!"

Occupy Geoff Gordon

So what's the message of this to all Americans? "Don't look Uncle Sam in the eye or I will fill you with fucking lead!"

Neiko R Bryant

Getting ready for NDAA

cutty sark

As a resident and taxpayer in the City of Los Angeles, I believe that Mayor Villaraigosa, LAPD Chief Beck and the Los Angeles City Council must deny approval of this military exercise until the proper permits have been issued and sufficient liability bond has been posted.

The last-minute timing of the announcement indicates the military exercise may be attempting to operate without obtaining all necessary permits or complying with all statutory requirements.

As such, this operation places the residents of Los Angeles at risk of injury or death by a scale unknown, yet potentially massive. In addition, the City of Los Angeles may potentially incur destruction of city property, injury or death to city personnel and civil liability for damages which may bancrupt the city pension funds.

If Mayor Villaraigosa and the members of the City Council fail to act to postpone these military manuevers - then they themselves may be in violation of the City Charter, City Ordinances and/or State Law.

Therefore, I urgently call upon the City Attorney to conduct an immedeate preliminary analysis and issue an advisory to the City Council warning the councilmembers of potential civil liability to the City and potential criminal liability for members of the council and managers of city departments.

The fact that the residents of Los Angeles and the news media have been kept in the dark until the release of a last-minute announcement containing ambiguous reassurances which fails to list any contact information for any participants or any directors of this exercise is a prima facie evidence of an intent to operate without necessary permits and without taking statutory precautions and without posting sufficient liability bond.

This places the City of Los Angeles at significant risk because Los Angeles City Fire Department Personell will be obligated to respond to any medical or property emergency resulting from this military exercise.

The City will then be forced to absorb the cost of any emergency response. These costs include potential civil liability for injury or death to Fire Department personnel which the court assesses due to allowing non-permitted activity and exposing the Fire Department personnel to unecessary risk resulting from lack of proper prior notification of the presence of hazardous material and machinery.