Laurence Powell

Infobox police officer
name = Laurence Powell


caption =
born = 1963
died =
badgenumber =
placeofbirth = flagicon|US - Los Angeles, CA, USA
placeofdeath =
nickname =
department = Los Angeles Police Department
service = United States
serviceyears = 1989 - 1992
rank = Sworn in as an Officer - 1989
awards =
relations =
laterwork = Convicted in connection to the Rodney King beating

Laurence Michael Powell (born 1963) is a former Los Angeles Police officer. He was one of four officers involved in the beating of Rodney King on March 3, 1991.

Powell graduated from Crescenta Valley High School as an honors student and took three semesters in college. He enrolled in the police academy and finished near the top of his class.

On March 3, 1991, Powell and three fellow officers, Sgt. Stacey Koon, Officer Theodore Briseno, and Officer Timothy Wind were seen hitting motorist Rodney King with their batons in Lake View Terrace. Officer Powell was partnered with Officer Wind at the time.

A year later, the four officers were acquitted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. The jury deadlocked on Powell's charge of using excessive force. The verdicts led to the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.

The four officers were later indicted on federal charges for violating Rodney King's civil rights. Powell and Koon were convicted and were sentenced to 30 months in prison.

After they were released from prison, Koon and Powell were ineligible as convicted felons to serve on any police force. Powell had difficulty finding work and decided to enroll in school.

Powell refuses to speak about the incident and the trials. He is currently married and has two children.

References

External links

* [http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/la_riot/article/0,28804,1614117_1614084_1614517,00.html TIME Magazine]