May 18 '06 - 895 W - Vote Good + 15 :: Bad - 6 Cyclists Attacked on Ballona Bike Path: Community Alert
Published May 18th 2006 by C.I.C.L.E.
Public Service Announcement
The following are e-mails that have been sent out to the cycling community, please forward this information on to other cyclists.
This morning around 10:40 two cyclists were reportedly attacked on the
Ballona Bike Path that runs next to the Mar Vista Gardens Housing
Project. Their condition and the extent of their injuries has not
been relayed. Reportedly, they were jumped, pulled down and
attacked. Police were somehow summoned. Reportedly, dozens of
officers -- including a helicopter responded. The area surrounding
the crime scene was immediately locked down as the search for the
attackers was taking place. Two arrests were reported.
I cannot emphasize enough that you need to simply STAY AWAY from that
dangerous stretch of Ballona Bike Path!
I spoke again this morning with our contacts in Councilmember
Rosendahl's Office. They are supporting us along with the Senior
Project Coordinator for the City's Bicycle Program. They are putting
together a meeting of law enforcement -- including senior officers at
LAPD's Pacific Divison and appropriate players and agencies to deal
with this sickening problem directly,strategically and systemically.
Some of the officers who will be involved are road cyclists who take
this stuff to heart. We ARE getting help. I'll keep you posted.
In the meantime -- stay away -- let fellow cyclists know about this --
and please be safe.
Jeffrey
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Fellow LGers: This is a SERIOUS and DANGEROUS Situation.
Today at about 10:40am a follow LG'r and I were riding down the Ballona
Creek path heading towards the beach and foolishly did not take Jeffrey's
advice. We were stopped just after the 405 by the LAPD and told to get off
the path immediately - that there was a crime scene ahead. Looking ahead
down towards the Mar Vista Projects it looked like a bike was lying on the
ground. There were police all over the area and helicopters in the air.
The problem looked serious. We were diverted to ride through the streets to
get to Culver Blvd. It was a scary scene with many hostile people out front
and 10-20 police cars lined up in the area - it was like a war zone.
Not sure what happened but told that it may have been a cyclist that was
attacked and pulled down by the jersey. This is not confirmed. What I was
told was that there is a gang there and they are dangerous. It looks like
they are on the war path. We are easy targets: clothes that stick out, nice
bikes, we usually have money and cell phones, and can not run far or fast
once off the bike.
Let's be safe and consider an alternate route through this stretch.
Please read the below email from an LAPD officer:
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Hey All,
I am an LAPD Officer who used to work in that Division. That area is
patrolled by LAPD Pacific Division. The gang in that area is called "The
Culver City Boyz". They are a Hispanic gang that runs the Mar Vista Gardens,
which is where the problems are on Ballona Creek. They have robbed and
murdered many times before, and the Police are very familiar with them.
They're 1 of 3 main gangs in the Pacific/Venice area, they are not afraid to
use those guns either, so please anyone who was there and either a victim or
a witness report it to the Police. I would advise the upper echelon of La
Grange call Captain Williams and request a meeting. He is a very good
Captain and will get the problem taken care of. Also any information you
can provide will greatly assist the CRASH/Gang Officers identify the
suspects. I will make some calls to fellow officers over there and have the
Culver City Boyz get some extra attention in that area. Anyone that has any
questions about what's going on feel free to contact me and I will assist in
any way that I can.
You might remember about 3 years ago there was a pursuit of 3 murder
suspects that ended at the end of Supulveda BLVD at Ballona creek. I went
in foot pursuit of the shooter and caught him just inside the projects at
the creek. All three were captured, convicted and are doing life in prision,
but thier amigos are the ones that you have to worry about at the creek.
That is the type of criminal that you are dealing with in those types of
confrontations. Once again, please call and report the crimes, you guys
empower us to go after these shitheads.
I would give them the attention myself but I work in South Central now,
and will only be in Pacific once in a while over the summer. Then I will
give them a little attention. And there is not much I like more than
giving gang-member shitheads the attention they require. Let me know if
anyone needs assistance in contacting Capt. Williams.
Stay Safe,
Rusty Redican
LAPD Newton Division
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That’s a pretty professional attitude that cop has, huh?
IMBG - May 18 '06 - 17:08
“Rusty Redican”?? This sounds urban-legendish. Has anyone bothered to verify this information? I can’t find any news mentioning the Bologna Bike Path or Mar Vista housing project. No mention I can find on the LAPD website or LAPD blog, but that’s just from a quick scan.Fritz (Email) (URL) - May 21 '06 - 21:42
Here is an update on this incident:On May 19, 2006, at 6:13 PM, Jeffrey Courion wrote:
I have been in good, detailed coversation with two LAPD officers
today, one a Senior Lead Officer for the Pacific Division. The
Senior Lead Officer has 30 years experience at Pacific. Both
officers also happen to be highly experienced and respected road
cyclists carrying a breadth of insight and understanding of the
challenges and needs we face. Both are deeply committed to cycling,
service and community. Both are straight talkers.
IMPORTANT POINTS—Wednesday’s attack was between rival gangs—
the Culver Boyz and 18th street. Members of the Culver Boyz were on
the path when 3 members of 18th Street came riding through. Words
were exchanged resulting in a gun being drawn with one gang member
being shot in the leg. LAPD got the call and responded to the scene
immediately. Officers locked down the area and searched
and “scooped” 6 suspects (male and female) and the gun. All 6 have
been arrested and are in custody. One officer commented to me that
there is a possibility those arrested may also have been the one’s
that confronted the La Granger last Friday. It may have been a non-
related incident. Dectectives are looking into all of this. LAPD
will have a presence on the path.
The La Granger who was first to report his being confronted by ski-
masked youths was deeply concerned about all cyclists and users of
the path. Some of us who ride this route, including myself, have
had rocks and eggs thrown at us from time to time. Others fellow
riders have relayed their experiences.
I asked the Senior Lead Officer if he thought the Ballona Creek Bike
Path safe enough to take small children for a ride on their own bikes or
towed in a Burley. His response was an unhesitating “Yes!”
Judge for yourself. Whenever and wherever you ride, be aware and
safe so you can have fun!
Jeffrey
Harv (Email) - May 22 '06 - 10:33
To: IMBG I would rather that Police Officer be brutaly honest with us and keep us safe than feed us some BS about whats being done. Or wax about how those poor gagmembers are victims of scociety. SAve it, they are shitheads and so are you if you can’t take the truth. If you don’t like what he called those predators than go on down to their hood and give’em a big hug, maybe they’ll listen to you. The Officer is dealing with these guys all the time and knows what kind of pillars of scociety they are. Thank God thier are still Police Officers out there that do not consult with morons like IMBG before they protect us. Sounds like IMBG is a moron who has been delt with by some good police work and now holds a grudge. I say we all get behind this Officer and all the Officers like him and let them know how much we appreciate them. So they don’t just hear from morons like IMBG when they want to complain, but they hear form us when they are taking our safety seriously enough to call it like it is! This Officer took a pretty big chance, warning us, I know we all expect it, but lets face it this type of honesty and information is not very easy to come by. I am glad that he told us how seriously the captian at pacific division is taking our problem. And it makes me feel safe when a Police Officer has the stones to call it like it is and tell us what is being done about it. And hey check out the LAPD’s new blog. http://www.LAPDBLOG.com.. This is where we can all be heard. And thank you to Officer Redican and all of the Men & Women of the LAPD that are helping us out and keeping us safe.Jack (Email) - May 23 '06 - 13:40
Let’s please refrain from personal attacks.C.I.C.L.E. (Email) - May 23 '06 - 21:46
Thank you to the LAPD and officer Redican for keeping us safe. IMBG you must not have ever been in the company of gangs and the activity they are involved in. It takes a policeman with a rough edge to deal with them. I think he was very professional and I am glad people like him still go after these criminals like they do. It is clear to me by his articulation that he is very professional and cares enough to explain to us what is being done. That is the way the realationship between the police and the public should be. And I agree with Jack, all of what he said. And thank you Jeffery for the information about the other incident. It’s great to see that there is a functioning realationship between the police and us cyclists. It takes us all to be involved for the criminals to see us all working together with the police department and that we are not going to take it. Also they will recieve unwanted attention from the police if the continue with the status quo. It seems that the police have the situation under control and we will be riding on Ballona creek again soon. Thanks again to LAPD.Alicia - May 24 '06 - 11:49
Alicia, you know quite a lot about my personal history for somebody who has never met me. Tell me, what did I eat for breakfast today?You don’t know? Well, maybe you can have one of your rough-edged policemen beat the information out of me. Don’t worry; I’m neither white nor spandex-clad, so I’m not the kind of bicyclist that the LAPD goes out of its way to protect. :)
IMBG - May 24 '06 - 14:27
Settle down there IMBG, don’t get your county jump suit in an up roar! Sounds like Jack hit your type right on the button. Obviously so did Alicia. Perhaps those gang members were friends of yours? You guys at C.I.C.L.E. have a great forum, but wow, IMBG seems to have quite the chip on his shoulders! A police officer gives us some straight scoop and shares vital information with us and all a malcontent like IMBG can do is question his professionalism and attack a female who spoke her mind in reply to his questionable comment? Isn’t the information that we got from this officer what we want from our police department? Why is IMBG even on this site, if by his comments, he seems to be not very concerned about the safety of the riders in Los Angeles? And WHO CARES what color you are IMBG, tossing out the race card like a baiter? Sounds like IMBG got his lunch money taken on a regular basis when he was a kid! Heck he probably still gets it taken away! That’s why he did not even eat breakfast this morning, Alicia. Thanks LAPD, for all you do, and don’t do
. And this I am someone who has been ticketed by the police for running red lights on my bike! News FLASH “I did it” so I paid the price! I have also been let go by far more police than have ticketed me, so there are quite a bit more cops out there that have not forgoten where they came from than bad ones. Thanks LAPD and stay tough on the criminals. We dig it. Got to go to work, so whatch out for those doors everyone. And IMBG lighten up Francis. Jay- Bike Messenger
Downtown LA
Jay - May 24 '06 - 15:37
Please tell me more about me. Thanks!IMBG - May 24 '06 - 16:09
All right everyone… there are a few too many insults being hurled here. We appreciate thoughtful and constructive commentary, please let’s keep it at that.Your cooperation is greatly appreciated folks. Thank you!!!
C.I.C.L.E. (Email) - May 24 '06 - 17:52
OK, seriously now, some of these roadies are acting like it’s the first time anybody ever got jumped.Yeah, it’s bad, yeah, it’s wrong. But if you’re going to go pedaling your expensive toy in a big city, with your “clothes that stick out, nice bikes [and] money and cell phones,” you probably ought to have some street smarts rather than expect your class privilege to protect you on the street the way it would in a courtroom or a boardroom. If this is headline news to anybody reading this, well…welcome to consensus reality.
Meanwhile, may I suggest that if you folks really can’t stand to see the less-than-professional language of your rough-and-ready Officer Rusty Redican criticized on CICLE.org, perhaps instead of banging out thousand-word screeds about the family history, high school social life, DNA blood type, and favorite color of the person pointing that language out (amusing as those posts are), you should save your outrage for the frickin’ genius who shared his private email with the entire Internet. It is to him or her that you owe the indignity of seeing people post things that you disagree with on a public message board. (I doubt that Redican himself, if he exists, is losing much sleep over it.)
P.S. Jay, I had no idea that you were a real live bike messenger in gritty, urban downtown Los Angeles! I bow to the awesomeness of your street cred!
IMBG - May 25 '06 - 03:00
I think IMBG’s last post was right on in the class privilege theory! But I part with him on the language used by the Police officer. I want my police to have balls and talk like they need to when they need too. I think IMBG, you might agree with me given your keen eye on the “class privilege” theory? I think you were johnny on the spot with it. You can not use a kind and sweet tone when talking to, or describing a piece of s@*# like a gang banger. Gang members only understand two things “PAIN” and hardend Police Officers! I hope they are as rough on these predators as it seems they are from the posts. And I don’t care if it’s in Venice or South Central, gangmembers need to be delt with violently if thats what it requires to keep the rest of us safe! Anyway everyone, bike messenges, MTN bikers and roadies, ride safe!Steve - May 26 '06 - 15:46
Well, no new incidents on Ballona Creek! I can only guess that LAPD stomped those cowardous gang bangers! Good, those punks needed it, dad sure isn’t providing any dicipline! Well ride safe all.Jay, your bike messenger in gritty, urban downtown Los Angeles with my awesomeness of street cred! Thanks for my new slogan IMBG
~
Jay - May 30 '06 - 18:17
No elephant sightings in the last few weeks either. Clearly, my elephant whistle is working. Not that any of you are the least bit grateful.IMBG - May 31 '06 - 03:43
Thanks go to the Police Officers of the LAPD! To whom we are all greatful.Alicia - May 31 '06 - 10:46
IMBG – You are delightfully amusing; bravo on your sense of humor and wit! It was great fun reading your responses!eden - May 31 '06 - 18:44
[Insulting remarks removed by C.I.C.L.E. moderator]Sorry Charlie… we can’t have people hurling direct and personal insults towards one another. Keep it constructive and on topic please.
Juan - June 01 '06 - 10:30
I have a couple of relatives in law enforcement, one of whom is an LAPD South Bureau homicide detective. To a man (or woman) they all tell me that the skills needed to deal with gangbangers are a command presence, alertness, and the ability to form a one-on-one rapport with people on the street. None of them ever mentioned the ability to use dirty words in email as a valuable law enforcement skill, and the homicide detective has expressed more than once the opinion that the guys who pride themselves on their tough-guy shit-talking on the street do so because they lack natural command presence and/or they watch too much TV.Also, can those of you who are convinced that gang members are universally pieces of shit please help me figure something out? I never could understand just how it is that so many intrinsically evil pieces of walking human excrement just so happen to live in areas that are neglected, underserved, and economically depressed. And what’s really weird is that most people join gangs when they’re about 11 or 12 years old, which is a little young to be making decisions about where to live. So it can’t be that they seek these places out. What explains this bizarre coincidence, then? I’m totally baffled…
Daniel - June 01 '06 - 14:02
Hey Daniel, quite a bit of what you stated are in fact important tools to have in being a police officer in south central, however some people only understand straight talk that sometimes consists of foul language! I am sure if the officer is using it as a regular way to communicate with people that you are right, he probably is watching to much NYPD blue and not enough Oprah. But I am positive that if your relative, who is a Homicide detective in 77th, southeast, southwest or Newton Street, is worth their mettle, they will agree that you can’t always sweet talk, or even firmly speak with a complete degenerate who does not have the power of rational thought. So sometimes you need to use foul language, and if it requires a Police Officer to tell a man to drop the #%@$ing gun instead of shooting said man, and said man finally complies with the Officers commands, then I think that you and your relative would agree that the Officer using that language is a certainly applicable and justified! Once again I would bet the farm that your relative, if he is really a southend homicide detective, will agree with me. Anyone who thinks other wise has NEVER been a patrol Officer in South Central Los Angeles, NEVER! Or they belong. As for your second issue, what do you call a gang member that shoots his girlfriend in the head in front of her 14 year old daughter, because she wants to leave him? Misunderstood, neglected, underserved, and economically depressed? Save that for the coffee shop. A person like that is an evil piece of walking human excrement! If not why don’t you and your relative wonder on down to South Central and explain your thoughts to the young girl, who I as a South Central Patrol Officer still think about every Mothers Day and on Holidays. The Officers articulation in the email about the gang members in Pacific is not in my opinion over the top and I see nothing Neanderthals about it at all. The department and you, need Officers like us to go out and keep you safe, and trust me if I could go through my career and not use foul language, and still get the job done I would! But it does not work that way, and anyone who says that I am wrong, has NEVER been an aggressive Police Officer and is not someone I would want to sit in a patrol car with in South Central anyway. Those types of people are better suited in Beverly Hills or working behind a desk. You show me any Officer that has not used foul language on the job and I will show you an Officer playing hide and seek for 2 grand a week! Not doing any real Police work. I will yield to you that the city does not put nearly enough resources down in South Central as they should and need to. There are a lot of good people down there getting victimized on a daily basis.Ride safe.
Steve - June 03 '06 - 03:29
If somebody tells me to drop a gun or he’ll shoot me, and I believe that he’s serious, I’m going to drop the gun whether or not he uses “fucking” as an intensifier. Thus it would seem that the command, backed up by a credible threat, produces the desired action from me, and that the use or non-use of foul language is sort of secondary. But then, I don’t watch a lot of TV.What’s being left out of all this, of course-
Thanking all of you [personal insult deleted by moderator] sincerely for your kind motherfucking attention and shit,
IMBG
IMBG - June 03 '06 - 04:54
IMBG, the Officer was sending the email out to a bunch of his friends and friends of theirs in response to an email he got from us. I know this because I am one of his friends who he emailed and I spoke with him at lenth about the issue on Ballona Creek. Yes, they should not have posted his comments as in a forum like this and sent them all over the internet, but, hey what can you do. and those of you that are so concerned about being arm chair quarterbacks whos’s family members, unckles, brothers, wifes, friends brother is a policeman, might have heard that the LAPD is hiring, bring your ivy league language in to a recruiter and head on down to the south central.IMBG, your most likely a law abiding citizen, and would not be in a position where a police officer would have to tell you to drop a gun. “NEWS FLASH” not everyone drops the gun and most of the time they run and the officer has to chase them down, and while chasing a suspect with a gun, they might end up using foul language, after telling the suspect several times without might resort to throwing an f-bomb, wow what a shocker. I guess you would rather he just shoot the suspect?
I would challenge either IMBG or Daniel to head on down to south central and see how much adrenaline gets going or if they even have the sack to get out of a patrol car and actually deal with an armed suspect that is not going to comply. Try some of that elitist, soft, and see how far it gets them. You can use your street cred, maybe that will convince a 240lb parolee that your understand his plight. Just before he goes southbound on your head with a slew of F-bombs, then you can ask him to please stop swearing, it offends you. Political correctness kills, and if your a whiny turd that gets offended when someone uses foul language in an email, wow, your life is pathetic.
I think Daniel and IMBG have been wearing out their Serpico and Bad Lieutenant gold edition DVD’s. I know Officer Redican is not swearing at old lady’s and giving 85 year olds tickets for J-walking, so how about giving him a pass on using a few explatives in an email that he typed while in the comfort of his own home and trying to help the rest of us out. Also according to the other officers at LAPD Pacific division, all is back to as normal it can be on the Creek. Thanks for doing what you do Steve, and be safe down there.
Edward - June 03 '06 - 11:12
Amen, Steve and Edward, Amen!Juan - June 03 '06 - 11:40
I’m pretty sure that if rough-and-ready Rusty Redican is tough enough to talk “street” in an email, he’s tough enough to handle some criticism on the Internet. In fact, now that it seems that the victims of this assault weren’t yuppie roadies after all, I doubt that he or any of the other officers at Pacific Division who were supposedly “road cyclists who take this stuff to heart” are really paying a lot of attention to this incident anymore. We’re probably the only people still talking about it.Anyway, yups, stay safe, keep your eyes open, and don’t let your Spandex bind.
IMBG - June 03 '06 - 15:26
It seems as if IMBG has a pretty big chip on his shoulders about Officer Rusty Redican? IMBG, if you ask him nicely I am sure he will give you your lunch money back. Wow, yups? I had no idea you were such a wordsmith. I also had no idea that we were being blessed by Mr.Underground , rail riding , free riding introvert himself, code name IMBG! I bet you have Green Day ” I walk alone” as a ring tone! And all you spandex wearing cyclists, pay attention to IMBG when he speaks of spandex adequate, he spends most of his days wearing them as a breathing apparatus to protect his respiratory system from the LA smog. Soiled or unsoiled, it makes no difference to him. As for the victims, there were several incidents, perhaps you should attempt to keep up, instead of furthering your infatuation with Rusty, and male cyclists in spandex? The last of the incidents were the gang member on gang member “crimes.”Anyway, keep it real Vanilla Ice, I mean IMBG and keep the spandex pad out of your eyes while your riding your vintage 1973 sting ray you old school retro hold out.
Jay - June 04 '06 - 02:27
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTHi this is Liz one of the gals that runs this site. While we appreciate many of you participating in the list discussion we want to point out that this site is not a place to digress into a back in forth shoving match waiting for someone to throw the next punch.
Basically the debate has lost it’s meaning. It has no value, when people let emotions get the better of them and stoop to low ball insults as a way of gaining ground.
We again ask you to refrain from these tactics. Mostly we ask that you work to have a meaningful debate, work together and not against each other. People come from all different backgrounds, and sometimes we can surprise each other when we take the time to talk it out. When we also don’t become reactionary to others comments, but instead think of how best to get our point across so that the other can see our side, without dismissing it. Insults don’t garner respect, they garner hostility.
And also if this site has any meaning to you, than please concider that this is a personal request as well.
Sincerely Liz
Liz (Email) - June 04 '06 - 10:33
Your right Liz! I am sorry for allowing IMBG to steer us away from the issue. Thank you to Officer Rusty Redican and the other police officers of the LAPD. You guys are doing a great job and we all dig it. Thanks for keeping us safe.Jay - June 05 '06 - 03:50
Thank you Officer Redican and the LAPD there are some that don’t appreciate you for their own misguided adventures, but we law abiding cyclists thank you for doing what you do. It is a thankless job and we are lucky to have officers like you out there dealing with predators like these, whether the victims be South Los Angeles residents or cyclists from West Los Angeles, you do what most would be far to scared to do. Chase and catch violent criminals. Some of the rhetoric here has been born of jealousy and spite but most has been in doing for you what you do for us, be it on much less dangerous grounds. And that’s standing up! Thanks to Velo LaGrange and the rest of the people that worked hand and hand with the Police department on this issue. Community and Police working together, it’s refreshing. And to the LAPD, thank you again for taking care of the Ballona Creek gang members and be carefull out on the streets. Also God bless that female Officer (Kristina Repatti) from LAPD that was shot over the weekend. She is a HERO!Alicia - June 05 '06 - 11:22
Thanks to the LAPD and Velo LaGrange, it’s good to see a working partnership between the Police Department and our cycling community. Lets keep it going.Bill & Kathy - June 08 '06 - 19:41
Good job L.A.P.D. those criminals needed to be delt with harshly, not hugged and treated with kid gloves like some of these posts hinted at! Thank you for doing what you guys and gals do, it’s a dangerous job. And thanks to C.I.C.L.E. and LaGrange for bringing it to the rest of our attention, I might not have known if it had not been for you guys! If there is really an Officer Redican thanks to him as well for being up front and honest enough to post it like it is!Evan - June 13 '06 - 13:17
with all the negative comments and observations it’s no wonder you “wonder boys” get knocked off the path. i’ve been using the ballona path for 5 years straight, morning and evening commute from culver city to santa monica. NOTHING has ever happened to me or others that i know. is it attitude? looks? easy target? CHOOSE ANOTHER ROUTE!as far as the fictitious “police” officer, i’d be more afraid of him than any gang-banger. he has the power to make anyone of us disappear, and NEVER get caught because he belongs to the “untouchables”
james (Email) - June 16 '06 - 13:31
[Personal insults removed by CICLE Moderator] You seem a little contradictory, is the Officer fictitious, or does he have the power to make us disappear? And if you are more affraid of the Police than a gang-babger, then bring your tough guy attitude down to where I live in South Los Angeles, [ comments moderated] Bring your hard looks and ATTITUDE? What a joke! And you need not reply to this rant,sssshhhhhhhhhhh just peddle yourself on down to the area of 111th street and Avalon. Make sure you bring id so the Police can identify you after you get jacked up and delt with by the gang members or junkies down here. The LAPD are the only thing saving us down here from the gangsters. It sure isn’t tough guys like you who, WOW,” been using the ballona path for 5 years straight, morning and evening commute from culver city to santa monica.” Your so rough and tumble! I’ve been commuting for the last 15 from South LA. See ya at 111th and Avalon hard guy, wear a diaper! Don’t be to scared I’ll call the Police for you when you get jacked for your retro cruiser, you fred!Hey C.I.C.L.E. thanks for letting us know about the ballona creek problem, even us who live in Sout LA like to know where ambushes are bing set by the gangsters. My head is ussualy on a swivel anyway but it’s good to get a heads up. And thanks to you guys and LaGrange for bringing the issue to the Police Departments attention. I live down in the ghetto and the LAPD coppers have always been cool to me. A lot of them know me because I always commute by bike and they look out for us all down there. Not all cops are bad and it’s been to my expirience that the people that hate cops tend to ALWAYS have an axe to grind. Most likely because they have screwed up and been corrected by the police.
Mustafa - June 18 '06 - 23:47
“as far as the fictitious “police” officer, i’d be more afraid of him than any gang-banger. he has the power to make anyone of us disappear, and NEVER get caught because he belongs to the “untouchables”.”Hey James, “triple” up on the “ritalin” and your “other” “phsyc-meds!” And Mustafa I would bet the bank that tough guys like IMBG, James and Daniel (who’s unkles brothers cousins, friends, sisters, father, wifes daughter who has a friend who’s a big time detective, who is the foremost expert on gang-member treatment, RIIIIIIIIIGHT, (just give them a big hug and tell them it’s gonna be ok, while stroking their hair) will never have the courage to ride down to 111th and Avalon. Hell, NEVER!
By the way C.I.C.L.E., what about the personal attacks on the police officers character by james and daniel? Because he is a cop, he does not count?
Jay - June 20 '06 - 10:53
It would be great if all those who have been spending their energy getting mad, irate, lashing out, would consider actually posting to articles that please them. Especially when we get people that have taken time to contribute on our site for the feature sections. They need to know that you support their efforts. Often times we are compelled by anger to respond to something that displeases us. But seldom do we take the time to express our pleasure.I would like to encourage you to think about taking all this energy you have put forth on this thread and consider letting our contributors know that you like what they are saying…we all know that controversy gets attention, it’s what the news agencies depend on, and why they continue to create controversy to drive up ratings. We try to keep the irritants to a minimum, focusing our attention on what’s good out there, but we need to hear that that means something to you. Otherwise our contributors are just shooting in the dark, thinking no one cares.
I have done the same, thinking that the person on the other side of an article, a web site, an art piece, knows that they are doing good work, so why tell them the obvious. But then I began to realize that, no they don’t know if they are doing good work if no one tells them. They can sometimes make assumptions that people appreciate what they are doing, but they never really know for sure.
So how ‘bout focusing some positive attention on some people today. And helping to encourage people to continue to contribute to this site.
We really don’t want to spend our time censoring hostile comments, at the same time trying not to be too authoritarian about it.
We started this site, not for our own egos, but to show that we have a wonderful and growing culture, beyond just a recreational sport. And we want to continue to show and express that and help entice others to join in. So I ask you sincerely to be an active part of that. To stop spending energy on anger and start spending energy on encouraging others, letting them know that you value their work.
When a performer gets up on the stage in front of an audience, they get immediate feed back on their work. For a writer the only feedback they can depend on is your comments. Imagine what the performer would feel like if at the end of their performance the audience just didn’t clap.
I would like not to see another post on this article. I want to see you all post something nice on one of our features. The feature articles are written for C.I.C.L.E. only. It saddens me when I see a great article receive absolutely no feedback. I think then, will that person ever contribute again? Would you ever contribute to a site where you received no feedback from?
Your feed back doesn’t have to always be a pat on the back, but certainly we ask that you never hit below the belt.
This is by no means meant to shame you or lecture you…I just really started thinking about were we (myself included) spend our energy…and where the energy was needed most on this site, as far as the audience was concerned. We need you to help us…sincerely, we need you to let our writers know that their efforts are worth it, and to keep contributing to C.I.C.L.E.
Sincerely Liz Elliott
Liz (URL) - June 20 '06 - 13:04
Point taken Liz, but It seems that the Officer in this case gave us some very important and vital information, and he is thanked by some of the ingrates in this forum with spitfull rhetoric. If we are all truly looking to exploit the positive in what people say and do, then how about a little respect for a guy who puts his life on the line, literaly, for us every day? This might not be a big deal to some of the tough guys out there, but not everyone is a gladiator. This is one of those times where the public and the police came together and worked well as a team! I think we focus on the bad things that these police officers do enough, the very least we can do is recognise them for the good things they do, even if it’s their job. Anyway thanks to Lagrange, CICLE and the LAPD.Keep the Rubber side down everyone.
Mustafa - June 22 '06 - 20:30
Sorry, LaGrange supporters, but from the way some of you acted it’s like you had never had anybody disagree with you on the Internet before. Honestly, guys, reading stuff you don’t agree with is a part of life. It happens to all of us. You really needn’t blow your top and bang out 10,000 word manifestoes speculating darkly about the background, character, appearance, and shoe size of the people you differ with…just rebut their arguments. That’s how useful debate happens.It’s too late for this thread, obviously, but you might keep it in mind for next time.
IMBG - June 23 '06 - 03:33
Alicia’s last comment was deleted by the moderator. Yes we are aware of the fact that a few direct and personal remarks have slipped by us in the past, but… we’re going to be more hardcore about it now.Direct and personal attacks upon someone’s character will not be tolerated, and any posts from here on out that contain this type of content will be deleted in their entirety.
C.I.C.L.E. (Email) - June 23 '06 - 09:56
IMBG must work for CICLE, that is clear, or CICLE is to anti Police that they can’t even see his comments for what they are claiming to be so upset about! What a shame.Alicia - June 24 '06 - 12:41
C.I.C.L.E. supports an open and democratic space where people are free to voice their opinions and/or beliefs. There is an exception to policy however. As stated above, defamatory comments and attacks upon someone’s character are not tolerated here, and those comments will be removed.The original post was forwarded to us to be published as a public announcement, which is why published it.
The public’s comments with regards to the original post are in no way representative of C.I.C.L.E. and/or its ideology.
C.I.C.L.E. (Email) - June 24 '06 - 13:23
This website does a great service by bringing information and support not just to the biking community but to the entire LA community who seek transportation options. They even go futher to build relationships with decision makers and transportation planners within the City of LA so that positive changes can be enhanced for those that bike everyday in LA. As trained LAB instructors they want to improve bicycling safety for all cyclists. By claiming that C.I.C.L.E. is anti-police is far from the matter and a pathetic claim.Anthony Jusay (Email) - June 24 '06 - 17:11
Well thank you for finally joining the debate Anthony, perhaps you, in all your wisdom, can point out what I said that was so far off base. But please scroll up and read IMBG’s statements and tell me where he is helping anyone? And funny you should finally speak up, I don’t recall seeing you standing up for the Officer that so kindly spoke up for you? As for the decision makers and transportation planners within the City of Los Angeles, they are a complete failure! And that is as pathetic and transparent as a johnny come lately!. And CICLE you fail to see my point, you have allowed the police officer, who seemed to be only trying to advise us or whoever he was emailing of a very real danger. Seems pretty stand up to me! ” defamatory comments and attacks upon someone’s character are not tolerated here” ? Really, then defend the police officer and strike IMBG’s pathetic comments about the officers professionalism! He seems like the type of police officer that you and I are looking to deal with when we have to? The type that will be honest with us and actually do something about a problem, not pucker up and tell us only what he thinks we want to know.Alicia - June 25 '06 - 02:07
Nope, I don’t “work for CICLE” and don’t know any of them personally. Just a satisfied customer.And to reiterate a point that I made near the beginning of the discussion, but that seems to have been lost among all the subsequent caterwauling: Officer Redican’s private email never would have come in for any criticism on the public Internet if somebody hadn’t posted it in its entirety to the public Internet. If it’s really, really super-duper important to you that nobody ever criticize your friends, don’t put their business (or their private correspondence) in the street. It’s as simple as that.
IMBG - June 25 '06 - 03:28
All points taken well Alicia. I’ve been late with this post but that’s because you started making assumptions about CICLE that you know nothing about. I know them, and I know what they are trying to do which is not anti-establishment. This site is community building from the ground up that wants to reach out to all levels of society to create positive change. As for failures, what it comes down to is that its the people, which includes yourself and I who have chosen it. These failures are a result of modernity. Its up to us to realize the failures and change it.Anthony - June 25 '06 - 14:25
Well, Alicia, if Anthony is a “Johnny come lately, then I must be a Johnny come very lately. I have to ‘fess up. It was me who forwarded the message at the very top of this thread and the subsequent update from Jeffrey. I saw it on the LACBC forum with the request that this info be disseminated to L.A. bicycle riders in general. The issue seemed important; bike riders threatened/attacked on the Ballona Creek path. Pretty simple, watch your ass.What should have happened is that readers would think, “Wow, I am gonna be careful out there ‘till they sort this out”, and drop it at that. But no, crap started flying around and the well-intentioned efforts of the original posters got attacked, then the attackers got attacked, ad nauseum. The CICLE management tends to be very forgiving and tolerant of contrarian views, but this has gotten rediculous.
I know from personal experience that the work that Liz and Shay are doing is dedicated, objective, and without any axes to grind. Criticisms are unwarranted.
Anthony is a soft-spoken guy, but no less dedicated to ‘the cause’ than CICLE and us hangers-on, sympathizers and contributors. He is employed in a related industry and has much to offer, although this may not be apparent to you.
I guess now I can go back to blogging about Northeast L.A. bike culture and my vitriolic commentary. Its been a slow Sunday, I just couldn’t resist tossing in my two cents. :)
Harv .
Harv (Email) - June 25 '06 - 16:38
Quite a bit of puke being hurled. It seems to me though that Alicia, Jeffery, Mustafa, Liz, Jay, Evan, Bill & Cathy, Edward, Juan, Steve, Harv and Jack all seem to have it right. The Police officer, Lagrange and CICLE all seem to have the safety of us all in mind, the others not mentioned just want to be rable rousers. Thanks LAPD, La Grange, CICLE, Harv and Officer Redican for sharing your information and at the very least alerting us all of the problem. Drop all the attacks, crack a cold brew and enjoy life. I will have one for officer Redican, because I am sure he is busy chasing gangmembers in Newton, which is a far cry from Ballona creek. Everyone ride safe and enjoy SoCal. It sounds like officer Redican would not care that his information was shared as long as it helped the SoCal cycling comminuty. Bottoms up.Kevin - June 25 '06 - 17:17
Amen Kevin. A cold one sounds really good right now! I will have two additional Petes Wicked for Officer Redican. That ghetto is no joke! Cheers!Jammie - June 26 '06 - 17:45
I agree with Kevin on all his points. It’s good to see a good deed by Police every once in a while. We need to give the Police a pat on the back sometimes. Cheers to the Officer and to Los Angeles Police Department. I will have a frosty Murphy’s for them. Also good thread C.I.C.L.E.Tony - June 27 '06 - 15:49
One more thing! Offier Redican sounds like Dirty Harry. He sounds like the kind of cop that we need out there dealing with these complete degenerates. I say kudos to him. And thank God cops like that still exist.Tony - June 27 '06 - 15:52
Well Anthony, Harv, Liz and IMBG, I read quite a bit of commentary about Police Officers on C.I.C.L.E. And I don’t know how much of the stories are true because there is only one side told. Now we have all been stopped by the type of Police Officer that sweats the small stuff, right I think we can all agree on that. But here we have a Police Officer that does what we all whine and wax that they should be doing when they stop us, the good people? And a couple of malcontents are allowed to bad mouth the Police in this incident, because god forbid they use foul language? He was right in what he said. I mean is it positive interaction we want to have with the police or is it the type of interaction where we have to spit out california vehicle codes at them and expect a pat on the back by our fellow cyclists because we stood up to the man? Are you kidding me? And whats pathetic Anthony is the FACT that a Police Officer took a stand for US (typically expected) and instead of commending him we bash him and his choice in language?? He shared information that might have saved one of us from a serious encounter. He is not the ussual police officer we deal with in the better parts of Los Angeles, he is one of the officers in the real ghetto chasing very bad people, not a chasing a cyclist for going through a red light or sweating us for the small stuff. So it would appear that if we cannot recognize a good police officer truly in it for us and not because he loves the power then we are anti police. If not prove me wrong and lets see some of the nay sayers step up! And god bless you Mustafa that is a rough area to be riding in, be careful. I don’t suspect that you will ever see IMBG or any of the paper tigers down there. (moderated). And for the record whats “the cause”? Getting back at the man? Promote cycling? Drinking beer? Waxing intaletcual on the net? Bicycle culture? James and IMBG living happily ever after? Just so I know which “cause” we are talking about, this time.Alicia - June 28 '06 - 10:36
C.I.C.L.E. supports a forum for open and democratic expression. People are encouraged to exercise their right to free speech and voice their opinions and/or beliefs.As stated before, there is one exception to this policy—defamatory comments and attacks upon someone’s character are not tolerated here, and those comments will be removed.
The public’s comments with regards to the original post are in no way representative of C.I.C.L.E. and/or its ideology.
C.I.C.L.E. (Email) - June 28 '06 - 11:09
Sorry Alicia, I often presume too much upon those who may read my posts. By ‘the cause’ I meant bicycle advocacy. Not that we necessarily want the whole world to start riding bikes, although that is happening anyway without much help from us. We just want a fair shake. We want to use our bikes for a variety of reasons which need no explaining here. It should be clear by reading the manifesto of CICLE just what the cause is, starting with, “Bicycle news, advocacy, culture” which appears at the top of the home page.I guess it is true that I perhaps dwell a bit much on encounters with cops. That is because it happens too frequently. I am always seeing black helicopters over group rides. Most of the time, it is without consequence, but we are still on the steep part of the learning curve for City officials and police. We will get there eventually. Advocacy can result in getting there sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, of course you are correct about the police activity concerning the Ballona bike path. It has never been my intention to paint all police with the same broad brush. So please don’t extrapolate my ‘small stuff’ commentary on police encounters to include the issue at hand here.
Harv (Email) - June 28 '06 - 13:39
Point taken Harv and thanks for clarifying and for posting the information in the first place. Perhaps you at CICLE should/could contact Officer Redican, he seems to have an open door when it comes to cyclists. It sounded to me like he is pro-cyclist and seems to have some friends at LaGrange? Maybe he is the person you and CICLE could approach to get some of those unanswered questions answered? Like the helicopters? I know I would love to know why the helicopters are always up there too? Maybe he could help further the cause in the right direction? Anyway ride safe all, and watch out for the doors, even you IMBG.
Alicia - June 28 '06 - 14:13
Just wanted to clarify something about C.I.C.L.E…we do want to get the whole world on bikes, at least some of the time. If we can’t get the whole world will will try for as many as we can.Read our Mission statement to learn more
http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot..
C.I.C.L.E. (Email) (URL) - June 28 '06 - 17:22
TO ALL,TO ALL WHO CHALLENGE THE PROFESSIONALISM OF LAPD OFFICER RUSTY REDICAN, I WENT TO THE POLICE ACADEMY WITH OFC REDICAN BACK IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 1999 AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT HE IS THE MOST PROFESSIONAL PERSON I KNOW. OFC REDICAN IS EVERYTHING AND MORE THE STREETS OF LOS ANGELES NEEDS. I CHALLENGE ANYONE WHO WROTE IN THIS BLOG TO WALK IN THE SHOES OF OFC REDICAN ON ONE TOUR IN SOUTH CENTRAL. PEOPLE YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE THINGS HE HAS SEEN OR DONE…. SO DON’T BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE…LAPD NEEDS MORE OFC REDICAN’S ON THE FORCE. RUSTY, BE SAFE MY BROTHER….YEAH YEAH AND YEAH…...
GARY HANNAGAN (Email) - July 07 '06 - 00:10
I believe these reports of crime on the Ballona creek trail, but in 5 years of riding it several times a year alone I’ve never seen any threatening situations. I’ve come across many people riding, walking and running on the path and none were threatening. I’ve ridden it end to end and back, past the Mar Vista Gardens each time. So I say at least to me, during the day it’s safe. I don’t know about at night or when it’s completely deserted. I’m curious how many incidents there have been over what period of time. Also are the people targeted innocent passers by or involved with crime?todd - August 23 '07 - 02:13