LAPD answers to the LA city which answers to the public (in theory).
I was thinking about this yesterday some. The real issue is that people demand 'change', 'more accountability', etc - but NOTHING SPECIFIC.
The LA / Orange County area voters need to push for officials to take very specific actions. Vote them in, or out, based on their support of those positions.
Some examples would be :
1 : Cut expenses
10% across the board pay cut in LAPD pay. This should be done in a tone that says 'The citizens pay you, and they aren't happy. They elected us on a platform that demanded we do this to you.'.
In other words, let them know who the boss is.
2 : Form civilian commissions to review police brutality cases. Police can be on these so they can represent the view of the police, but should be in the minority. Civilians ultimately decide what is and is not ok, not the Police.
Give these commissions power to fire bad cops.
3 : Put into law that police who are accused of serious infractions, like the 6 who shot up that truck, can be immediately suspended without pay.
Making it a law is necessary to invalidate the Union contracts. Union contracts are why the police cannot be fired without review.