LAFD, 1992 Riots

I watch this video of LA FF's working in an extremely hostile environment. Guess the cops were at the California idea of Dunkin Donuts (big on the east coast and middle america)
 
The LAPD was stretched just as thin. I remember a friend of mine from a San Diego area department being relocated to Long Beach and spending some time there. I don't remember if he actually got into LA.
 
I have a friend that is a retired BC for LA city. They sent him as the first due chief on a box in the riot area. He was at the time in Batt 17 in the San Fernando Valley. They went on the scene in 45 min. Many workers were handled with a Task force, engine, pump and ladder.
 
I believe the L.A. City Riots of 1992 were the Worst the Country ever faced. As I remember, they went on for THREE DAYS (?). I remember the tillerman being shot in the face while responding to a call. The entire city was under assault, especially the South Central section. (I have a video put out by a retired B.C. named Alan Simmons on it).
  I'm sure that there was nobody goofing off, police or fire, while this was going on. I could be wrong on this, but I seem to remember there being 2,000 working fires in L.A. City during this period of time. Aerial views would show five or six columns of smoke rising over the city.
  Almost 20 years ago. I'm sure most of the guys (firefighters, police officers, national guard etc) are all retired by now. There really isn't much information out there regarding this.
  NYCFIRE has got to try to recruit a few of those police or firefighters from that time, to tell their story on here. Let's hope that our bosses on here, Tommy B. and Mike (Truck 4) are listening.
 
nfd2004 said:
I believe the L.A. City Riots of 1992 were the Worst the Country ever faced. As I remember, they went on for THREE DAYS (?). I remember the tillerman being shot in the face while responding to a call. The entire city was under assault, especially the South Central section. (I have a video put out by a retired B.C. named Alan Simmons on it).
  I'm sure that there was nobody goofing off, police or fire, while this was going on. I could be wrong on this, but I seem to remember there being 2,000 working fires in L.A. City during this period of time. Aerial views would show five or six columns of smoke rising over the city.
  Almost 20 years ago. I'm sure most of the guys (firefighters, police officers, national guard etc) are all retired by now. There really isn't much information out there regarding this.
  NYCFIRE has got to try to recruit a few of those police or firefighters from that time, to tell their story on here. Let's hope that our bosses on here, Tommy B. and Mike (Truck 4) are listening.
Click to expand...

I believe it wasn't the tillerman, but the fireman driving the front of the tiller that got shot in the face.  His Captain leaned over and was able to stop the rig by hitting the air brake (and I would imagine getting the rig into neutral).  If i'm not mistaken, all firetrucks now are equipped with an air brake button on the officer's side because of this.

Went to college with a guy who's a Stamford, CT. cop now, but was in the National Guard in '92 and was sent to the riots.    Also know of a retired Fairlawn, NJ Cop who was on the LAPD during the '92 riots.    Said it was nuts!
 
I once met a BROTHER from Boston who had been shot in the face on Duty...i do not remember the circumstances....maybe GrumpyGrizzly has more info.
 
Bob Dobalina said:

I believe it wasn't the tillerman, but the fireman driving the front of the tiller that got shot in the face.  His Captain leaned over and was able to stop the rig by hitting the air brake (and I would imagine getting the rig into neutral).  If i'm not mistaken, all firetrucks now are equipped with an air brake button on the officer's side because of this.

Went to college with a guy who's a Stamford, CT. cop now, but was in the National Guard in '92 and was sent to the riots.    Also know of a retired Fairlawn, NJ Cop who was on the LAPD during the '92 riots.    Said it was nuts!
Click to expand...

  I think you are correct on that. It wasn't the tillerman, but the driver of the rig.
  And I do remember a time when a Boston Firefighter was also shot. Also a Detroit Firefighter who was shot while climbing an aerial ladder in their set of riots. I believe that firefighter lost his life.
  No wonder cities like New York put roofs over their cabs. But I think it was later on when roofs were entended to cover guys riding the back step. Later came the six man cabs where everybody rode inside. But it wasn't until later that Aerial Ladders and Tower Ladders had that feature.
 
June 3, 1967. Boston Ladder 4 responded to a alarm. As the officer exited the rig shots ran out from snipers. The officer was hit in the wrist. Because he no longer had full feeling in his hand it was determined he could no longer return to active fire-fighting and was assigned a desk position. His name was Lt. Joseph Donovan and he was my uncle. >:( :(
 
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