Video: Man Testifies Officer Kicked Him In Face During Hearing That Ended Christopher Dorner's LAPD Career
Videotape from the case that ended Christopher Dorner's career at the LAPD has surfaced.
In this video obtained by Fox 11, a man Christopher Gettler testifies that a female police officer kicked him once in the face outside of a DoubleTree Hotel in July 2007.
Dorner had been riding along with his training officer Sgt. Teresa Evans. They got a call that Gettler refused to leave and was sitting on a bench outside the hotel lobby. At the time, he had a "glazed look in his eyes," according to court documents obtained by CNN. When Evans and Dorner tried to take him into custody, he refused to comply and then took a swing at them. Evans pulled out her taser and warned the man to stop. She shocked him, and he submitted. This is what everyone agrees happened.
But Dorner made a complaint months later that Evans also kicked Gettler that night. The LAPD Board of Rights reviewed that case. Gettler's testimony was not considered, because he suffers from schizophrenia and dementia and the board ruled that it affected his ability to give accurate testimony.
MyFoxLA writes, "While court documents suggest that, Gettler was too inarticulate and un-credible this video allows you to judge for yourself."
The Board of Review viewed it as a "he said, she said" case, and it was Dorner's word against his training officers. The board viewed his claims with suspicion since he waited months and reported it the day after he received a poor work evaluation. The report cost Dorner his job.
The way that this shook out figures heavily in Dorner's lengthy "manifesto" explaining why he was going on a rampage targeting law enforcement:
"You fuckers knew Evans was guilty of kicking (excessive force) Gettler and you did nothing but get rid of what you saw as the problem, the whistleblower. Gettler himself stated on video tape ( provided for the BOR and in transcripts) he was kicked and even his father stated that his son said he was kicked by Evans when he was released from custody. The video was played for the entire BOR to hear."
The man asking Gettler the questions is Randy Quan, who was the appointed advocate and lawyer for Dorner. He is also now the father of murder victim Monica Quan, who was gunned down Sunday night along with her fiancé. Dorner is suspected in the murders.
Question for Dorner. You joined the LAPD, not the NAACP. You must have been aware that cops kicking people in the face was more the norm, not the aberration.
You joined the LAPD, not the NAACP. You must have been aware that cops kicking people in the face was more the norm, not the aberration.
JT,
Due to this LAPD case there have been a number of anti-police remarks @4um, though they should have been LAPD focused. I apologize for any remarks I have made that may have come across as too broad brush stroke against police in general and been offensive to you.
This case is very complicated.
On the one hand, the LAPD carries bad corruption + racism mojo/baggage from the past so it's tempting to assume that Dorner's allegations that he was shafted by the LAPD are valid. Also, the wacky "shoot anyone in a blue truck" reactions by the LAPD has further damaged their public image.
Furthermore, in his Manifesto Dorner projects a very articulate sympathetic Every Man persona and he makes a good case for himself, which many people can relate to on a personal level - ie. originally having faith in The System; then trying to do the Right Thing; only to be betrayed by The System. In many people's minds, Dorner has become the Hero Under Dog who is trying to get revenge for being being wronged by The Man. The murders Dorner commits are transformed in many people's minds as being "understandable" because a corrupt "System" left him no other choice to redeem his good name. I found myself at times secretly hoping that Dorner gets away from the evil LAPD and lives the life of Riley on the beaches of Fiji.
Snap! Dorner is no Knight in Shining Armour. In fact he has revealed himself to have some very nasty attitudes in his Manifesto writings. He has a huge chip on his shoulder. He shows a deeply seated racist hate for Caucasians. He also has quite the ego - he thinks he is a perfect human being, who is surrounded by corrupt violent racist evil people out to get him. You are right, JT - why join the LAPD that everyone and their dog knows has a bad rep - that's thrusting oneself into the Belley of the Beast - for what purpose? why would Dorner think there would be a different ending to his career than what happened? it's almost like he was a "willing victim" by his decision to join the LAPD.
More re: his high opinion of himself: he says he wants his brain to be analyzed by pathologists because he thinks his depression might have been caused by football injuries. Say what? Dorner was not exactly a battle hardened NFL line backer like Jr. Seau.
More warts on Dorner: his decision to settle "scores" with people he thinks ruined his career by murdering his attorney's daughter and her fiance ( both innocents) as well as police officer he encounters by chance ( another innocent who was a stranger to Dorner) is totally indefensible. Why kill strangers? Why didn't Dorner try to execute his attorney, Randy Quan, and/or his partner, Teresa Evans? Answer: perhaps Dorner was afraid to take on the individuals who harmed him mano-a-mano because he'd be the one to die. Maybe Dorner isn't such a brave fearless hero after all? Maybe Dorner just wants his 15 minutes of Fame just like all the other run-of-the-mill egotistical self-centered crazies who have come before him?
For what it's worth, I think the vast majority of police officers try to do their jobs the best they can, which is to protect the public and to get bad guys off the street. Police work is an exceedingly stressful and dangerous career. Most people - myself included - would never choose police work as a career because no amount of $ or authority can compensate for the aforementioned negatives. Most people - myself included respect their local police force.
Unfortunately this particular Dorner/LAPD case puts on center stage all the blemishes that a minority of police have caused to be associated with the profession.
So hang tight, JT - the negative publicity this case has generated for your profession will subside once the case has closure.