Update: Pasadena police order reforms after fatal shooting

Feb. 6, 2010, 10:35 a.m.

Two police officers, whose names have been withheld by court order at the request of the officers' union, fired 11 shots at Leroy Barnes Jr. during a traffic stop in February 2009. Several of the shots were fired as Barnes was prone on the ground. Barnes, an admitted gang member on parole at the time of the shooting, was armed with a gun.

On Friday, in a written response to an October watchdog report, the Pasadena Police Department said that they will institute a host of reforms and order new tactical training for its officers

In its report released in October, the L.A. County Office of Independent Review made more than a dozen recommendations and identified areas of concern about the shooting and the investigation that followed.

Among other things, the Office of Independent Review report found that the officers had put themselves in a tactically questionable and precarious situation that might have heightened their fear, and recommended that the department do a better job of examining previous shootings involving the same officers.

According to the report, one of the two officers had been involved in three shootings more than 10 years before last year's incident.

-- Victoria Kim

21 reader comments

Looks like Pasadena PD has their own "Dirty Harry" working on the force. Four shootings in 10 years! Why not give this guy a job in the CIA or Mossad and direct him to kill gangsters every weekend. Dress him as a "homie" and have at it. I think he likes killing.

Why is it that it seems mainly the criminals only have sense enough to walk around armed? You folks depending on leo's to protect you are really living on borrowed time. In CA. you can open carry unloaded/with a loaded magazine quickly available. (Stay 1000' away from all schools.)

With all government agencies continuing to expand and spend recklessly..Obama ever hyping more war, Goldman Sach stealing trillions via complicit Congress..the collapse of empire is inevitable. Most are noticing that police are becoming fully militarized and willing to stomp on civil liberties with impunity. Such is a sure warning signal of a country entering a fascist stage of decay.

Are you prepared to live without utilities and survive roving gangs, thug cops and general chaos when the banks are shut down?

Have at least food and water for 18 months..one shotgun to protect your family from thieves and Constitution ignoring jack boot criminals in uniform. All fiat money systems eventually collapse. That is a fact!

— Pete Feb. 14, 2010 at 12:32 a.m.

@syscom3, gang life, even past gang affiliation can get one killed, some of these guys carry despite their prior records as a measure of defense, while others are on the prey.

I am not saying it is okay to carry a weapon, but if I had a notion that someone would kill me on sight, I would pack 2-3 guns, I'd rather get caught by the police with it, well in some cases, than to be caught by someone seeking to hurt me without it.

My question is: in ten years one officer had 3 previous shootings, he should have known better at this account? You dont shoot a suspect that has surrendered, one subdues, while the other covers. In my humble judgment they should re-examine all the shootings, there may be a pattern that warrants investigation.

— shadowbox1 Feb. 11, 2010 at 10:39 a.m.

The Homicide Report

Update: Pasadena police order reforms after fatal shooting

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21 reader comments