Police a No-Show at Community Forum on Shooting

The mood was one of frustration at a town hall meeting on Saturday held to air concerns over the shooting death by an officer with the Culver City Police Department of a robbery suspect earlier this year. 

The two-hour meeting was hosted by the National Association for Equal Justice in America--a civil rights group led by Royce Esters, former president of the Compton NAACP.

Esters said he personally invited the police chief and the city council to participate in the meeting, but no officials showed up. Perhaps the most repeated complaint at the gathering  was the absence of law enforcement leaders.

"Them not coming totally disrespects the community. We came here to have a conversation,"  Esters said. "We wanted them here so that we could work together as a team. In all my years, I have never seen a police department not show up to a meeting" when invited by the community. 

About two dozen residents gathered to hear the wide-ranging panel discussion, which touched on the April 25 officer-involved shooting,  as well as other police-related concerns, including racial profiling, excessive force and hiring practices.

In addition to Esters, panelists included Leon Harper, chair of the association's anti-crime committee; Stephen Shikes, criminal attorney; and Calvin Cressle, a senior special agent for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Jonathan Taylor, press and publicity chairperson of the association who moderated the event, also expressed disappointment at the lack of police participation.

"The reason why forums like this are important is because situations like this hurt everyone," Taylor said.  "We had hoped that this would be a forum where we could ask questions. "

Harper concurred. "They're the one who need to hear you, the citizens, complain," he said. "It is strange to not have that opposing voice here." 

Police Chief Don Pedersen responded to a Culver City Patch request for comment via email.

Pederson wrote that his staff spoke with event organizers beforehand and explained that no one from the police department would attend the meeting because they are unable to comment in light of ongoing litigation and because the investigation is out of their hands. 

 "Any failure to attend this meeting was absolutely not a sign of disrespect for the community or the NAEJA," Pedersen wrote.

The investigation is being conducted by the homicide bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.  Once completed, the case will go to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office for further review. 

" 'Claims' have been filed regarding this matter and there is the potential for litigation," Pedersen wrote.

In April, a Culver City officer stopped a vehicle after identifying Lejoy Grissom, who was in the passenger seat, as matching the description of an armed robbery suspect.

There are conflicting reports of what happened next. According to police, Grissom ignored multiple commands to keep his hands in the air, and instead dropped his hands as if reaching for a weapon. The officer then shot him.

A witness to the shooting told the Associated Press that Grissom had his hands in the air and was surrendering when the officer opened fire.

Grissom was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

According to Deputy Stephen Blagg of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, there is no end date set for this investigation because there are "witnesses who still need to be interviewed" and the District Attorney's office has to "make a decision about whether the shooting was justified."

Jane Robinson at the District Attorney's office said they have yet to receive the case.

Attempts to reach Mayor Christopher Armenta, Councilman Scott Malsin and Councilman Jeffrey Cooper were unsuccessful.