In 1970 Los Angeles, the LAPD formed an anti-gang unit they infamously named “TRASH,” or “Total Resources Against Street Hoodlums.” They later changed it to CRASH, “Community Resources.” But they caused shocking damage to Black communities all the same.
As you can guess, CRASH wasn’t all about violence prevention – cops were on the hunt for any Black and Latine people they could find. Just one weekend in April 1988 resulted in 1,500 arrests – only 103 of them actually leading to charges!
And on August 1, 1988, they really showed their true colors.
That day, LAPD violently scavenged two low-income apartment buildings. They ripped up furniture, punched holes in walls, beat residents, and even poured bleach on residents’ clothing. No one was charged with a crime. They spray-painted “LAPD Rules” on the walls, then left families to deal with the damage.
But CRASH came crashing down eventually.
In 1999, then-officer Rafael Perez became a major foil, when he made a deal to expose CRASH’s violence. And from framing civilians to winning plaques for shooting suspects, he revealed that 90% of officers were abusing their power. But it isn’t just CRASH.
The entire system of policing tells us all we need to know: police don't prevent violence, they create more violence. And their inability to value our lives puts all our communities at risk.