LAPD apologizes to Robert Kennedy's family

[babylonsister]

LAPD apologizes to Robert Kennedy's family

Exhibit hosted by the department included items worn by RFK when he was slain.
By Andrew Blankstein

March 3, 2010


The Los Angeles Police Department has apologized to the family of the late Robert F. Kennedy and removed items from a homicide exhibit in Las Vegas that included the dress shirt worn by the senator when he was assassinated in 1968, officials said Tuesday night.

The shirt was among a number of items included in the highly publicized display at the 2010 California Homicide Investigators Assn. Conference, which is being hosted by the LAPD. The crime-scene evidence can be seen by the general public for the next two days.

snip//

Also on display was evidence connected to the assassination of Kennedy, who was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel very early on the morning of June 5, 1968. Kennedy was mortally wounded in a kitchen pantry moments after declaring victory in the California Democratic presidential primary.

snip//

Members of the Kennedy family and others were offended that items -- including a shirt, tie and jacket -- worn by the late senator would be displayed, LAPD officials said.

Those items, which were on display to the media most of Tuesday, were removed, and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck apologized to the family.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd-exhibit3-2010mar03,0,7909238.story

[LiberalPC]

1. Those motherfuckers

[Lochloosa]

13. Welcome to DU LiberalPC. Your going to fit right in

:toast: :evilgrin:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. I Can Remember The Assassination Like It Was Yesterday (Sigh)

My mom and I were watching his victory speech on tv. I was ten years old at the time. I can remember walking around for the next day with a transistor radio "glued" to my ear to see if he would survive. RFK was complex like all of us but he had learned so much and had been seared by tragedy. By the time of his death he was just so full of empathy.

As an aside, my fiancee used to live blocks away from The Ambassador Hotel where he was martyred. I think they turned it into a school.

[naaman fletcher]

3. So what...

People get offended so easily. It was 40 years ago.. he'd dead. It's a shirt. People need to quit whining about everything (especially since there are legit complaints out there, whining over trivial things actually harms society, imho).


They could have been happy that it was shown to remind people that a great man was slain. Perhaps it would cause people to look him up and read about him.

But... that wouldn't have gotten any attention, so they chose to whine instead.

[babylonsister]

5. And the LAPD displayed the shirt because they wanted attention.

I think the Kennedys are entitled to 'whine' as you so quaintly put it. :eyes:

[mmonk]

8. +1

[midnight]

4. What an odd thing to display? What a lack of thoughtfulness for the living

family members.

[Historic NY]

6. Why isn't this stuff in the archives?

[babylonsister]

7. Or the Smithsonian? Good question. nt

[Historic NY]

19. It should be at the National Acrhives in the Select Committee on Assassinations files.

United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations

[LiberalFighter]

15. LAPD should not have possession of those items.

It should be left up to the Kennedy family to decide.

[eShirl]

9. what are they even still doing with those?

[rsmith6621]

10. I Guess The Smithsonian Should......

..Remove the Top Hat Lincoln was wearing the night of his death as well as long as we are all going to be sensitive to the reality of history...And the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis the bullet that killed Martin Luther King while we are are at it..

[babylonsister]

12. That's what the Smithsonian is for. For the LAPD to display these

items for attention is a whole 'nother matter.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

17. I don't remember who has the clothes of Harvey Milk

But I saw a display of Milk's clothing that he wore when he was assassinated on the news the last year or so.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

18. Dupe

Dupe

[blueamy66]

11. I am sick of people having to apologize.

Jesus, think before you do stupid shit like this.

[revolution breeze]

14. I wonder why it was not turned over to the family

After a police investigation is concluded, it is customary to return the personal effects the the victim's family. This includes all clothing that was worn, as well as jewelry, wallet, dental reatiner, whatever. If the family does not want the items, they are disposed of. I can understand the historical significance of the clothing, but if the family did not want it displayed, why didn't they claim it and take possession? However, I still think it is incredibly tacky of the LAPD to display the shirt.

[LiberalFighter]

16. LAPD's history consists of being tacky.

Since they were able to fire all those teachers in NJ they should also fire everyone in the LAPD. Hmmm

[Canuckistanian]

20. Umm,WHY are the clothes of a slain politician in the hands of the LAPD?

What business is it of theirs to possess the shirt of RFK? Isn't the case solved?

[Octafish]

21. I'm shocked. I heard they destroyed all the evidence.

The LAPD didn't want any complications with their lone-nut theme.

And a hearty fuck you to Chief Gates!