Original subtitles

This is the city.

Los Angeles, California.

It has recently become the leading art center in the west.

The Los Angeles County Art Museum.

$20 million worth of concrete and steel.

It's the largest museum built in the United States

since 1941.

La Cienega Boulevard is lined with private galleries

representing every price in art.

Some are for the public.

Others require an appointment.

But the pride of Los Angeles

is the Watts Towers built by Sam Rodia.

It took him over 33 years.

The towers are constructed of concrete, broken glass,

and chips of stone.

Sam Rodia was an Italian immigrant

who wanted to do something for the United States

because as he said, there are nice people in this country.

Mostly they are nice, but not always.

Sometimes they can get mean.

When they do, I go to work.

I carry a badge.

The story you're about to see is true.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

It was Thursday, April 4th.

It was warm in Los Angeles.

We were working the day watch

out of Management Services Division.

The boss is Captain Brown.

My partner is Bill Gannon.

My name is Friday.

We finished the shift at 5 p.m.

At 6:52, we've been called back to work.

Bill got there before I did,

and he knew what the emergency was all about.

Earlier in the evening, in a city nearly 2000 miles away,

a visiting citizen had stepped out of his motel room

for a breath of air.

From a second story balcony,

he waved at some friends on the sidewalk below.

A shot had been fired from across the street.

The visitor went down.

Within a matter of minutes, he was pronounced dead.

His name, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

- Joe, Bill, you heard? - Yes, sir.

- They got a suspect yet? - Not much so far.

They think somebody shot him from across the street.

Chief wants the ECC open. That's why you're here.

Mac, Sergeant Joe Friday, Bill Gannon. This is Earl McNevin.

- Mac will be your routing officer. - Jenkins is out of town.

I shanghaied Mac from Metro Division.

Like I told the captain, this Emergency Control Center is something new to me.

Give him the word, Joe.

I got to run up and see the chief.

Wait here for me.

- How long have you been on the job, Mac? - Eight months.

You know about the Emergency Control Center, do you?

I didn't even know we had one until 15 minutes ago.

The ECC is located on the first floor of the building here.

Now, in the event of a disaster or an unusual occurrence,

fire, flood, riot, civil disturbance,

it functions as the department command post.

In other words, unlike setting up

one of the mobile command posts in the field,

we use this one in the building.

No, not quite, Mac. Think of it this way.

The Emergency Control Center

is one big finger on the city's pulse.

Everything that happens in Los Angeles,

even down to the smallest incident,

will be monitored here.

If any patterns seem to be developing,

- they'll be checked out. - I see.

And by the same token, we don't want a simple rumor

or an untoward minor incident

to trigger deployment of men and equipment

and thereby create a situation that might not have

occurred if we've been on top of it at the outset.

It kind of works both ways for everybody's protection,

but not to cause undue and unnecessary alarm.

- You got it. - It sounds complicated.

It's been known to get that way.

- Joe, Bill, the captain around? - He is upstairs with the chief.

This is Earl McNevin, Metro Division. Sergeant Blakeley, Intelligence.

- So it's Mac, no doubt. - No doubt.

- What is the story back east, Andy? - Oh, pretty bad.

We're starting to show symptoms.

Few window smashes, a couple of arsons,

nothing too big so far.

- Any crowds gathering? - Funny thing about that.

- Yeah? - The streets are practically deserted.

Friday, Gannon, Chief says right now, get out the notifications.

- Yes, sir. - You got the goody, Andy?

- Who else? - Good. That's one division notified.

7:15 p.m., Thursday, April 4th.

We alerted the rest of the duty crew

and unlocked the Emergency Control Center.

I would function as executive officer.

Bill was assigned to Inspector Hagan in Press Relations.

Thanks, Bob.

Reminds me of a military control center.

It's organized along the same lines.

Intelligence, Personnel, Procurement, Communications.

Now, there is your slot, routing officer.

Let's check the radio room.

Now you know the communications center down the hall.

Yes, sir.

All right. This is a backup. It's small but it works.

We operate on tactical alert frequencies.

Punch a button. We can talk to anybody anywhere,

all patrol cars, all divisions,

all police motorcycles and helicopters in the city.

- Joe, I just talked to the captain. He's on his way. - Right.

Chief is in a meeting, one of a series

he has set up with community leaders, all groups.

- All lines of communication are open. - Wide open.

Emergency Control Center, Sergeant Friday.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. We're activating right now.

I see.

Well, thank you very much, sir. We appreciate your call.

Yes, sir. We'll keep in touch.

Disaster control up in Sacramento, they're activating.

- Maybe it's good we are too. - What do you mean?

Intelligence got a call 15 minutes ago from Metro.

Some guy made a citizen's arrest 180th and Broadway.

A 14-year-old boy had a molotov cocktail in his pocket.

Well, that's one that won't get thrown.

- Yeah, but the kid didn't seem to mind. - Huh?

He said a lot more would be tonight.

- Is he being checked out? - All the way.

7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 4th.

The Emergency Control Center was activated.

- Ready to brief? - Yes, sir.

May I have your attention, please?

Your attention, please.

Now, you all know what's happened.

That's why we're here as a precautionary measure.

Now, just remember this.

A lot of people in the department and out,

are doing their best to keep any disturbances from starting.

Now, we can help.

First, the chief wants no excessive show of force.

Second, don't base any decisions on rumors.

Some pretty wild ones are floating around right now.

Check everything out before you act and stay alert.

That's about all I can tell you. Andy?

What trouble we've had so far

is mostly in Patrol Area 2, 77th Street,

University, Newton Street Wilshire Divisions.

Some rock throwing, fire bombings, but nothing major.

Rumors, we've got lots of them.

Most are burn threats. They're still coming in.

Can you give us the conditions, Captain?

Temperature mid 80s, humidity 12 to 14%.

Fire danger is very high.

What's your department status, Bob?

We've been on task force operations since the assassination.

- Personnel? - Joe, the department is fully mobilized.

Until further notice, all personnel will work A and B watches, 12 on, 12 off.

Kind of tough on expectant fathers though.

- Like who? - Cragnotti and Kenady.

- How soon? - Anytime.

- Art? - Last week, my cigars are getting stale.

- Anything else? - Teletypes gone out to all divisions.

We'll know available reserves by 8:00.

Good. Procurement?

Running vehicle totals now. Give me a couple of minutes.

Radio room.

- Open for business. - Chief Houghton?

You've said it all, Joe. Let's get to work.

Yes, sir.

Remember Bill, who, what, when, and where.

Yes, sir.

Press Relations, Gannon.

Yes, sir. What can I do for you?

150.

Yes, sir. We would check on it and thanks for calling us first.

Yes, sir. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

- 150 what? - Kids. A citizen called the TV station.

Claims they are running up our streets,

smashing windows, turning over cars.

- Who did you talk to? - Philips, Channel 12.

- He wants verification before they put it on the tube. - Get intelligence on it.

Yes, sir.

Here's one for you, Andy.

This is Control 9 to all units at 7:45 p.m.

The ECC is operational. Control 9.

Air 1 to Control 9. How do you read? Over.

Control 9. You're loud and clear, Air 1.

What is your position now? Over.

This is Air 1. I'm hovering over 77th Division, north of 52nd Street.

Roger, Air 1.

- Gloria. - Good evening, Joe.

- Do you want to check your time card? - Right.

Half of those are available reserves.

If we need them, we can have them.

Let's just hope we don't have to use them.

Radio room.

What do you got, Joe?

I'm afraid this isn't for publication.

Metro Unit has got a car under observation,

8th and Orchard, two men inside.

- What's the scoop? - The car is loaded with guns and ammunition.

Birddog this for us, will you, Andy?

8:15 p.m.

Metro had talked to the armed suspects.

The unit reported to the ECC.

Well, they had guns and ammunition, that's for sure.

- What's his story? - A couple of trap shooters on the way to a skeet club.

Bill, on that report from the TV station.

- Yeah, what did you find out? - Rumor. 20 kids instead of 150.

No cars overturned. No windows smashed. No damage.

- What were they doing? - Walking home from baseball practice.

6 a.m., Saturday, April 6th.

36 hours passed.

We slept when we got the chance

in the cot room in the basement of the building.

It was now nearly 40 hours

since the assassination of Dr. King.

Thanks, Captain.

Yes, sir. Not bad for a Friday night.

I understand, sir. Related to the incident. Right.

- Hollywood Division. - How did they do?

One arson, one attempted arson,

some broken windows, plus business as usual of course.

- Do you want to fill me in? - Yeah. You getting any sleep down here?

Well, pretty rough. You know how it is.

People are moving in and out most of the night.

I didn't do much better at home.

My wife was up all night with a toothache.

Wow, it looks like you hang a little wallpaper this morning.

- We took down more rooms than we put up. - Yeah.

Running one down, three more get started.

I can't figure the arsons. No pattern whatsoever.

- Well, that's good, isn't it? - Better than that. Any new assaults?

Let's see, you hit the sack about 3.

We had two scents connected with the incident

here and here in Foothill Division.

Foothill, my old stomping ground, what happened?

Shootings, three suspects in custody.

A couple of militant groups. That's about it.

Not the best Friday night, not the worst.

Mm-hmm. What's the word from back east?

Pretty bad. They've committed troops.

Middle West looks bad too.

Gannon, give me an educated guess.

Do you think we'll stay quiet here?

- Hard to say Joe, people got a lot of grief to work off. - Yeah.

You see how they're doing it in other parts of the country.

- Good morning, Joe. - Andy.

Well, I had a quiet night up North Oakland, San Francisco.

- That's good. - I don't like this though.

- What's that? - CHP called at 4:55 a.m.

Several carloads of militants heading south

all night on Interstate 5. Still counting.

- Joe? - Yes, sir.

Those marches this morning, the ones downtown?

- Two of them are scheduled, aren't they? - Right, and the silent vigil.

- Chief wants Air 1 to do a recount of the area. - Yeah, sir.

Get it on the air.

12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 6th.

The memorial marches were peaceful,

including the one in the San Fernando Valley.

Air 1 reported that the streets in downtown Los Angeles were quieter than usual.

Look at this, Joe. My wife's tooth must have really been killing her.

Nothing but lettuce in here. No meat.

Mayor's office on the phone. They want to know the situation back east.

I'll take it.

Gannon.

Well, what's new with the expectant fathers?

Look at them.

I see what you mean.

They're doing just what we are, waiting.

Saturday, April 6th, 11:45 p.m.

The University Division reported a window smash burglary.

Three male suspects were taken into custody.

The target was a gun shop.

Guns in this store and others in the area

had already been removed by the store owners.

Traffic detail for the coliseum tomorrow, memorial service.

Andy, what's the crowd estimate for the coliseum tomorrow?

- 20-30,000. - What about the service Monday?

We'll know better after tomorrow.

This is 13 Victor 5 to Control 9.

Central area situation report 11:46 p.m.

Traffic light, slight pedestrian activity.

13 Victor 5 over.

Control 9.

So far so good.

So far.

Executive Officer Friday.

Sunday, April 7th, 5:55 a.m.

I managed four hours sleep

and, along with A Watch, returned to duty in the ECC.

Got the hall full of press out here.

- Everybody got hot coffee? - That we got. How about some hot news?

- Here's the man. - Good morning, gentleman?

- Expect any trouble today at the Coliseum, Sergeant? - We hope not.

How many arrests have been made since the assassination? You know, connected with it?

I'd have to check.

Well, serious stuff, I mean, assault, battery on a police officer,

shootings, that kind of thing.

The figures are lowering, you'd think.

You mean lower than normal for LA?

That's right. Inspector Hagan has the numbers.

That's hard to believe. What does that indicate, Joe?

That the figure is lower than normal.

- Come on, Joe. - Morning. The boys are giving you a hard time, Friday?

No, sir. It's just that I don't have very much to tell them.

Neither have I except for the figures you've been talking about.

Inspector Hagan.

Patience.

How would you know?

Where did they book the 459s?

Culver City, two male adults, one female.

- What they have? - A gun place in Washington Boulevard. Big store.

Weapons recovered?

50 handguns, 357 caliber.

Aside of that, no problems.

This is Air 1 to Control 9.

I'm at the heliport ready to go.

Roger Air 1. Control 9. Please stand by.

Yes, ma'am. That's correct.

- Yeah, hold a minute. - Okay, hang on.

Bill, you heard anything about a bunch of

hippies supposed to march from Pershing Square

- to the Federal Building this morning? - No, sir.

No, nothing that we know of.

- Have this posted, will you, Mac? - Yes, sir.

- How do you like the duty by now? - The hours are great.

Well, don't let it bother you.

Science tells us we spend too much of our lives in bed.

Tell science I plan to spend the rest of mine there when we wrap up.

Joe, anything on the silent vigil?

That was it. 60 people on the steps of the Federal Building.

Orderly crowd. No problem.

If you get more information, let me know right now.

Yeah, talk to him again and back to me. Thanks, Al.

I hope that's only a rumor.

- Sir? - Newton Division.

Control man of theirs claims some young militants

are planning to start trouble on the Coliseum.

- Informant reliable? - They think so.

That's the memorial service, right?

We'll have an altar and a choir and they'll pray.

Even on a football field, it's still a memorial service.

Yes, sir.

- But I don't get it. - What's that, Chief?

Since when do hoodlums go to church?

Executive Officer Sergeant Friday.

Would you mind repeating that?

I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name.

Hello.

Well, here we go.

- What do you got? - Anonymous caller.

He says a bomb has been planted in the coliseum.

12:50 p.m.

The coliseum detail was on their way to the stadium.

They were alerted to the bomb threat.

Just talked to UPI. They got trouble all through the East.

Shots fired, officer assaults.

- Bureau chief thought he'd better give us a call. - How is that?

Worst trouble they got began at a big memorial rally.

- And we've got two of them. - Yeah.

Today.

And tomorrow.

Monday's observance would be held at Wrigley Field,

a former minor league baseball park in Los Angeles.

Services would be timed to coincide

with the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Intelligence estimated the crowd at 12,000,

but that was tomorrow.

Today was our big concern.

12:55 p.m., Sunday, April 7th.

It's here. Mine's here.

What did you get? A boy or a girl?

I got to ask.

If there's a bomb out there, they can find it.

- Command post open out there? - Yes, sir.

Half a block from the stadium,

Lieutenant Clark's crew, University Division.

- Anything from Air 1? - He just called. No traffic yet to speak of.

All right, it's 1:00. You call Clark at the CP on Tech 1.

- Tell him I want a periodic status report starting at 2. - Yes, sir.

- And one other thing. - Sir?

You tell him to keep looking for that bomb.

For the next two hours, we waited.

The city of Los Angeles took a deep breath and held it.

Television cameras were focused on the disturbances

in the eastern section of the country.

The streets, the people, the faces,

they all look vaguely familiar.

The riots and the rioters had a frightening sameness.

I only hope one thing, don't you?

Yeah, what's that?

We're not watching a preview.

Affirmative Control 9.

This is a 3 p.m. status report

from Lieutenant Clark, Coliseum Substation.

Crowd is in the west end zone, still coming in.

Parking lots partially filled.

Streets around the coliseum have no unusual traffic.

Santa Barbara heavy, but not backed up. Over.

Control 9. Roger. Thank you.

How big is the crowd?

Lieutenant Clark estimates about 20,000.

- Any incidents? - No, sir. None so far.

I'd feel a lot better if it wasn't for that bomb threat.

Sunday, April 7th, 3:05 p.m.

Executive Officer Sergeant Friday.

Yes, ma'am. It's perfectly safe to walk your dog.

- Yes, sir. - You're quite welcome.

Well, yeah, sir. We'd appreciate it but that's up to you.

All right, sir. Let me see if I have this now.

Your gun shop will be closed for the funeral tomorrow.

All right, sir. Thanks very much for letting us know.

Executive Officer Sergeant Friday.

Yes, sir. Hang on a minute. I'll give you Press Relations.

- AP on 2. Will you pick it up? - Yeah. Take this one on 3, will you Joe?

What is it?

Heard the bomb in the Coliseum

set to go off during the services.

- Anonymous caller. - Not this time.

Here's her name and address.

This is Sergeant Friday. Yes.

I see. You're sure of that, are you?

All right.

The woman sounded rational.

She'd been informed of the bomb by her minister.

He'd received a call the night before

warning him not to attend the memorial services.

Intelligence took over.

DHQ was notified.

So was Clark at the Coliseum Substation.

Another bomb search was begun quietly and quickly.

3:20 p.m.

Officers in Unit 3Z10 located the minister at his home.

- What'd they have to say? - Well, the minister's informant didn't tell him much.

- They never do. - No. No location. No definite time.

- Could be another crank. - Or it could mean business.

3:41 p.m.

A third bomb threat was received.

The caller refused to identify himself.

A half hour passed, then an hour.

4:41 p.m.

Have you talked to the CP up at the Coliseum?

Yes, sir. The services are almost over.

- Any problems? - No, sir. Lieutenant Clark says it's quiet.

Good. Now, here. Read this loud so everybody can hear it.

Now, everybody give Friday your attention for a minute.

It's a message from Communications.

Number of requests for police services running below normal.

City well covered.

Units responding rapidly.

Major crime calls well below normal.

Feel better?

I feel like a cup of coffee. Can I get you one?

For the last three and a half days, I've been living on it. I'll pass.

- All right, sir. - I'm still living on it.

- How's Eileen? You had a chance to call her? - Yeah, I just did. Funny thing.

- How is she? - It wasn't her teeth after all.

- Oh? - Tonsils.

She never had them on.

- Where's all your boys? - Press? Over at the coliseum, where else?

You can handle that news business. I couldn't take it.

Is that right?

Sure, the way those guys work, always on the go,

never at home, working weekends, sticking their necks out.

Believe me, pal. There's a better way to live.

- And you've found it. - Yes, sir.

6:10 p.m.

The Coliseum was deserted.

Traffic was moving freely throughout the area.

Clark and his details secured.

Nothing had gone off but the service itself.

No bullets, no bombs, no riot.

- Well, Joe. - Looks pretty good, doesn't it?

I'm not sure. The funeral is tomorrow.

They've had some trouble up north. That's getting pretty close to home.

Yes, sir.

I wish it over with, but I guess everybody did.

- I know one. - Who?

Mrs. King.

- It turned out to be three drunks in an alley, huh? - Yeah.

- Mac, you're armband, please. - Oh, I'm sorry. I'm new here.

Good night, men.

Joe, tell me something.

For the last few days, they've had riots all over the country.

Why didn't we have one here?

- A lot of reasons I guess. - Give me the most important.

All right, I'll try.

People in Los Angeles don't want a riot.

- Okay. But why? - Maybe they're too busy.

Doing what?

Honoring a friend.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Was buried on Monday, April the 8th, 1968.

Los Angeles was quiet.

On the day of the funeral and for several days after,

rioting continued in a number of U.S. cities.

Los Angeles was quiet.