Ex-LAPD Cop and Murderer Chris Dorner Was Not a Hero

As President Obama took the podium in Capitol Hill on the evening of Feb. 12, he had no idea that his State of the Union address would be overshadowed by the final efforts of a madman.  The majority of Americans near a television weren’t interested in where the United States economy was heading or how President Obama planned to bring jobs back to a country still reeling from a near economic collapse. Millions were watching events unfold on the side of a mountain in California. Christopher Dorner, an ex-LAPD police officer and Navy veteran, was engaged in a gun battle with San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies, making what would prove to be his final stand. A nine day manhunt that had many officer’s fearing for their lives ended in flames as Dorner’s charred remains were pulled from the rubble.

In 2009, Dorner had been fired from the LAPD for falsifying statements in a complaint against a fellow officer, who he stated had kicked a mentally handicapped suspect in the face while he was handcuffed. After losing the initial hearing, he appealed his firing to the Board of Rights.  According to CNN, a court ruled against his appeal in October 2011, permanently ending his career as an LAPD officer. Dorner then began to plan his revenge. His targets would be police officers he felt were racist, as well as every officer involved in his firing and appeal processes.  He started enacting his revenge on Feb. 3, when Keith Lawrence and Michelle Quan were found dead. Quan, 28, was the daughter of the man who represented Dorner in his disciplinary hearings. She and her fiancé Lawrence were both found dead from gunshot wounds.

Dorner continued his assault on the police force, killing a Riverside police officer and wounding another. When a widespread search began, Dorner retreated to the San Bernardino mountains, eventually ditching his vehicle and fleeing into the wilderness on foot. He remained hidden in the mountains for several days, where he took an elderly couple hostage as he hid inside their mountain condo. On Feb. 12, he made a break for it, attempting to escape the mountain. While he was leaving, Dorner was spotted by law enforcement and fled. Running into an empty cabin, he proceeded to engage the local authorities, firing at them from inside the structure. After a prolonged firefight that killed another officer and left one wounded, gas grenades were launched into the house. The home was engulfed in flames. With the fire spreading out of control, Dorner turned his gun and ended his own life.

Dorner wrote an online manifesto that damned the Los Angeles Police Department, stating that they not only tolerated racism from their officers but that they encouraged it. His 11-page writings detailed his reasons for revenge and named his primary targets. Dorner’s accusations against the LAPD have attracted a huge following of supporters, who hail the murderer as a “hero.” According to USA Today, “The ‘We Stand With Christopher Dorner’ Facebook page had drawn more than 27,000 ‘likes,’ and the ‘I Support Christopher Jordan Dorner’ page had more than 16,000.” Other similar pages have thousands of followers. In addition to Facebook, people have been posting tweets, claiming everything from support of Dorner to a mass conspiracy revolving around his death.

I feel that supporters of Dorner really need to think about what he did during his nine day vendetta.  I believe that Dorner’s fans need to take their “hero’s” advice written in his manifesto and “recalibrate their morale (sic) compasses to true north.” While some of Dorner’s allegations may have substance and should be looked into by all police agencies, murdering people in cold blood is not the way to be heard.

Since his death, rallies have taken place in Los Angeles, both supporting Dorner and criticizing the way he was brought to justice. Many believe that the fire was intentionally set by law enforcement. CNN reported that Twitter member @becomeyoung tweeted, “Apparently burning people alive is now considered appropriate behavior for the police. Judge, jury and executioner.” On Feb. 16, dozens of protesters assembled outside of the LAPD Headquarters in support of Dorner. While the rally claimed to support Dorner’s accusations of racism, many attending said that they did not agree with his acts of violence.

I believe that Dorner only appeared to act selflessly. He only began to protest after being fired from his job, and clearly states in his manifesto that his main targets were those responsible for his firing. His allegations of racism and unfair treatment are probably based on truth, but what he did was completely wrong. His actions completely muffle his argument for equality and fairness, killing in the name of social justice made him look like a madman, which is what he was.

Supporters of Dorner need to think about what they are saying. When they like a Facebook page that pays tribute to Dorner, they aren’t supporting a noble cause. They are advocating the use of violence as a means to create change. That method is no better than the culture of racism and abuse of power that Dorner claimed the LAPD supported.

I agree that some police officers abuse their title, as well as many of the privileges that come with a badge. I’m sure people at some time in their life have witnessed a patrol car turning on its lights to speed through a red light or cut in front of other vehicles. Many people have probably witnessed the police treating someone unfairly or being too rough. Improper behavior by police happens, but we all must realize that while some law enforcement officers may abuse the power that comes with their badge, many more act correctly every day. It isn’t a systemic problem, it is an individual one. Certain people shouldn’t have a badge because they will use it as an excuse to bully and mistreat people, but supporting a murderer because he claimed he wanted to right all the wrongs in law enforcement is stupid.

Correcting racism and mistreatment falls on the shoulders of every honest officer working the street. These men and women, who took their oath to protect and serve and meant it, need to speak up and should not fear repercussions if they make a claim. Frank Serpico gave testimony to the Knapp Commission, appointed to root out police corruption in New York City, in December 1971 saying, “We create an atmosphere in which the honest officer fears the dishonest officer, and not the other way around. The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which honest police officers can act without fear of ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers.”  Serpico’s words were true in 1971 and perhaps they still are today.

Police departments across the U.S. should evaluate their officer’s regularly and if there are complaints of abuse or racism, deal with them instead of brushing it under the rug. However, nothing justifies the violence Dorner committed when he killed four people to get his message across. Dorner doesn’t deserve your support; the police officers who uphold the law do. The men and women who recognize that their badges put them in an elevated position and act accordingly deserve your support, and if they receive it maybe then we will start to see a change.

David Adams can be reached at dadams@spartans.ut.edu