CBS2 Exclusive: LAPD Chief Announces He’s Reopening Case That Resulted In Dorner’s Termination
CBSLA.com ^ | February 9, 2013 6:19 PM
Posted on February 9, 2013 11:22:03 PM EST by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has just announced he’s reopening the case that resulted in accused cop killer and former officer Christopher Dorner’s termination.
“I’m not doing this to appease him. I’m doing this so the community has faith in what the police department does,” Beck said in an exclusive interview Saturday with CBS2’s Pat Harvey.
In a 20-page manifesto posted on Facebook, Dorner allegedly vows revenge against several former LAPD co-workers whom he claims ended his career.
“This investigation has already been reviewed at multiple levels…If I have to redo something or deal with an issue I will deal with it publicly,” said Beck, adding that interviews about the case cannot legally be made public for the interviewers’ safety.
The police chief said Dorner has not reached out to him in any way.
He stressed that if Dorner were to contact the police department and surrender he would guarantee his safety.
CBS News reported Saturday that investigators found weapons and cold weather survival gear inside the burned-out truck belonging to Dorner after it was located in Big Bear. Several law enforcement agencies have been scouring the area for the triple murder suspect.
“I’m not going to comment on what was recovered. I’m not going to comment on where we think he is or what we think he’s doing,” said Beck, who added that would be revealed in time.
Harvey mentioned that thousands of people are publicly supporting the triple murder suspect on a Facebook page.
“I’m surprised about it. I’ve been doing this for 36 years and not a lot surprises me,” Beck said.
The manifesto includes dozens of targets and warned that their families will be harmed.
“I will utilize every bit of small arms training, demolition, ordinance and survival training I’ve been given,” Dorner writes. “You have misjudged a sleeping giant.”
The manifesto goes on to say, “I never had the opportunity to have a family of my own, I’m terminating yours.”
Beck said the situation is putting tremendous stress on those officers and their families.
“We have protection details for 50 families. Imagine having to go through your daily existence like that, knowing your family was the target of a trained assassin like Dorner…It is absolutely unthinkable,” the police chief said.
Beck said he is putting all the department’s resources into finding Dorner.
“This is not just about cops, this is about all of us. There is a small, small portion of the population that puts themselves at risk for the benefit of society, and when they’re attacked, it puts the rest of the population under attack.
“I will do everything it takes to capture Dorner and to keep our police officers and the city safe, everything it takes.”
At the end of the interview, Harvey asked Beck why he chose to grant her the interview exclusively. The police chief explained that he had a good relationship with the CBS2 anchor and thought she was a fair journalist. He said he also wanted to reach out to the African-American community, who Dorner claims is unfairly targeted by LAPD officers.
It may also have to do with Dorner praising Harvey in his manifesto: “Pat Harvey, I’ve always thought you carried yourself professionally and personally the way a strong black woman should. Your articulation and speech is second to none. You are the epitome of a journalist/anchor. You are America.”
