12/19/02

LC021219

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

SIGNING UP FOR THE SMALLPOX VACCINE. WE’LL FIND OUT WHY SOME SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS ARE ALREADY GETTING THE SHOTS.

CAROLE STEVENSON>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY COMMUNITY, PEOPLE I WORK WITH, SO IN THAT RESPECT, YES, BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IF SMALLPOX IS AN OUTBREAK.

VAL>> L.A.’S POLICE CHIEF WANTS TO PUT THE BRAKES ON HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS AND TONIGHT WE’LL SEE WHY. WE’LL LOOK AT ONE FAMILY’S TRAGEDY AND SEE HOW IT MAY HELP SET A NEW POLICE POLICY THAT COULD SAVE THE LIVES OF SCORES OF INNOCENT BYSTANDERS.

THEN WE’LL MEET A TEENAGER WHO FEELS SHE’S DISCOVERED THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE THROUGH BUDDHISM.

CARINA LIEU>> WHEN I LOOK AT MONKS AND NUNS, I FEEL LIKE THEY’RE SO LUCKY. THEY’RE SO PEACEFUL AND THEY GET TO REALLY, REALLY PRACTICE A LIFE WHERE THEY’RE COMPLETELY MINDFUL AND CALM. I MEAN, I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT WHEN I GET OLDER.

VAL>> A LOOK AT THE REWARDS AND THE CHALLENGES OF BEING YOUNG AND BUDDHIST IN AMERICA.

IT’S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA. JESS HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE’LL TAKE THE SHOT, BUT HIS FAMILY WON’T. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR SCORES OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE SMALLPOX VACCINE. WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, IT COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS A PRECAUTION AGAINST A BIOTERRORIST ATTACK. BUT A SMALLPOX TRIAL IS ALREADY UNDERWAY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND, AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO GET THE SHOTS IN SPITE OF THE RISKS.

>> LET ME GO OVER A DIARY CARD WITH YOU.

GAY YEE>> INSIDE THIS SMALL CLINIC ON THE GROUNDS OF HARBOR UCLA, THERE IS AN URGENT EFFORT UNDERWAY TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF A POTENTIAL TERRORIST WEAPON. SOUTH BAY RESIDENT, DONELLA COFFEY, IS STEPPING UP TO THE FRONT LINE. SHE’S VOLUNTEERING TO TAKE THE SMALLPOX VACCINE.

>> I’M GOING TO PUT JUST A LITTLE VACCINE ON YOUR ARM AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO DO FIFTEEN LITTLE POKES, OKAY?

DONELLA COFFEE>> IT FEELS LIKE YOU’RE JUST BEING STUCK WITH A PIN. IT WAS JUST AN OUCH.

GAY YEE>> RESEARCHERS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A REDUCED DOSE OF VACCINE IN PEOPLE LIKE DONELLA WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY INOCULATED. THE SMALLPOX VACCINE WAS ONCE ROUTINE. IN FACT, IF YOU ARE THIRTY-TWO YEARS OR OLDER, YOU PROBABLY HAD IT WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD. BUT PEOPLE HAVEN’T BEEN IMMUNIZED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR THE LAST THREE DECADES AND THE ADULTS WHO WERE PROBABLY HAVE LITTLE OR NO IMMUNITY LEFT. THAT WASN’T AN ISSUE BEFORE, SINCE THIS DISEASE THAT RAVAGED THE WORLD FOR EONS WAS VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED. BUT SINCE SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE THREAT OF POSSIBLE WAR WITH IRAQ, THERE IS FEAR THAT THE VIRUS COULD BE RE-INTRODUCED IN A BIOTERRORIST ATTACK.

GEORGE W. BUSH>> WE ARE EVALUATING OLD THREATS IN A NEW LIGHT.

GAY YEE>> PRESIDENT BUSH HAS ALREADY ORDERED THE VACCINATION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AND HE PLANS TO BE INOCULATED TOO.

GEORGE W. BUSH>> AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, I DO NOT BELIEVE I CAN ASK OTHERS TO ACCEPT THIS RISK UNLESS I AM WILLING TO DO THE SAME.

GAY YEE>> BUT THE NATION’S PROTECTIVE VACCINE STOCKPILE IS LIMITED.

DR. JOEL WARD>> IT’S CERTAINLY NOT ENOUGH TO COVER THE WORLD AND THOSE THAT MIGHT NEED IT.

GAY YEE>> DR. JOEL WARD SAYS THE CENTER FOR VACCINE RESEARCH IS LOOKING FOR TWO HUNDRED VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN HELP DETERMINE IF OUR COUNTRY’S CACHE OF SMALLPOX VACCINE CAN BE STRETCHED.

DR. JOEL WARD>> THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE’VE NEVER EVALUATED OR TESTED THE SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND THAT’S WHY THESE TRIALS ARE BEING CONDUCTED NOW, TO BE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT, IN A DILUTED FORM, IT’S AS EFFECTIVE AND AS SAFE AS IN THE UNDILUTED FORM.

GAY YEE>> THE REQUIREMENTS ARE SIMPLE.

CAROL FARNWORTH>> WE’RE LOOKING FOR HEALTHY ADULTS BETWEEN THE AGE OF THIRTY-TWO AND SEVENTY WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY VACCINATED.

GAY YEE>> CAROL FARNWORTH SAYS A SIGN THAT YOU’VE BEEN VACCINATED IS THE TELLTALE SCAR THAT’S OFTEN LEFT BEHIND. IT’S USUALLY LOCATED ON AN UPPER ARM. RICHARD VIERSEN HAD ONE WHICH IS NOW JOINED BY THE NEW SCAR LEFT OVER FROM THE SMALLPOX VACCINE HE RECEIVED A MONTH AGO. RICHARD WAS BACK TODAY FOR BLOOD WORK. HE’S REQUIRED TO COME IN SIX TO EIGHT TIMES OVER A TWO-MONTH PERIOD SO HE CAN BE MONITORED.

CAROL FARNWORTH>> WE DO PRE-BLOODS ON PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT THEIR ANTIBODY LEVELS ARE BEFORE WE VACCINATE THEM AND THEN WE DO POST-BLOODS TO SEE HOW WELL THE ANTIBODY LEVELS HAVE BUILT UP AFTER THEY’RE VACCINATED.

RICHARD VIERSEN>> THIS REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SELF-PRESERVATION OR PROTECTING MYSELF. I’M GETTING TO BE OLD. I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT (LAUGHTER), BUT I DO HAVE GRANDKIDS. I’D LIKE THEM TO FEEL SECURE.

GAY YEE>> PEOPLE VOLUNTEER FOR THIS STUDY FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

CAROLE STEVENSON>> SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS MY REASON FOR NOT DOING THIS?

GAY YEE>> CAROLE STEVENSON IS THE NURSE AT LOS ANGELES HARBOR COLLEGE.

CAROLE STEVENSON>> IF I’M GOING TO BE GIVING SMALLPOX VACCINE OR IF THERE IS AN OUTBREAK, THE LAST THING THEY NEED IS THE NURSE TO GET SICK BECAUSE THERE’S ONLY ONE NURSE HERE. THAT’S ME. (LAUGHTER)

GAY YEE>> STEVENSON RECEIVED A SMALLPOX INOCULATION A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THE SHOT CAME WITH SOME SERIOUS POTENTIAL RISKS RANGING FROM SICKNESS TO EVEN DEATH. IT’S DEVELOPED FROM LIVE COWPOX VIRUS AND IT’S CONSIDERED VERY PRIMITIVE, BUT DR. WARD SAYS IT’S STILL THE BEST DEFENSE WE’VE GOT.

DR. JOEL WARD>> THE VACCINE HAS BEEN USED FOR TWO HUNDRED YEARS AND IT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH THE MODERN REFINEMENTS THAT ALL OF OUR OTHER VACCINES HAVE BEEN, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT WASN’T HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN BEING THE FIRST VACCINE TO ERADICATE A DISEASE FROM HUMANITY.

GAY YEE>> THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL ESTIMATE THAT ONE TO TWO PEOPLE PER MILLION COULD DIE AS A RESULT OF VACCINATION. STEVENSON VOLUNTEERED ANYWAY. SHE SAYS SHE’S DOING IT FOR HER COMMUNITY AND FOR HER COUNTRY.

CAROLE STEVENSON>> THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH, SO IN THAT RESPECT, YES, BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IF SMALLPOX IS AN OUTBREAK.

VAL>> SO FAR, SEVENTY PEOPLE HAVE VOLUNTARILY RECEIVED THE SMALLPOX VACCINE AS PART OF THE TRIAL PROGRAM AT HARBOR UCLA MEDICAL CENTER AND WE’RE TOLD THAT NONE OF THEM HAS SUFFERED AN ADVERSE REACTION, BUT THE DOCTORS THERE SAY THEY CAN’T PROMISE THAT ALL FUTURE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE AS LUCKY.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A TOY STORY OF A DIFFERENT KIND. WE’LL FIND OUT WHY A WESTLAKE VILLAGE WOMAN IS SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF HER OWN MONEY ON TOYS FOR NEEDY KIDS AND SHE’S NOT WEALTHY.

>> WE’RE NOT WEALTHY AT ALL. WE’RE COMFORTABLE, WE DON’T WANT FOR ANYTHING. I BASICALLY FEEL THAT, IF I CAN SPEND SO MUCH ON MYSELF FOR A VACATION, THEN I CAN CERTAINLY SPEND THAT TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

VAL>> AS YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD, THE LAPD IS ON THE VERGE OF REWRITING ITS POLICY ON HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS AND IT’S ALL BECAUSE SO MANY INNOCENT BYSTANDERS HAVE GOTTEN HURT OR KILLED RECENTLY. A LITTLE BOY LOST HIS ARM IN A PURSUIT-RELATED CRASH AND, EARLIER THIS YEAR, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS KILLED IN ANOTHER TRAGIC COLLISION. THEN THERE WAS THE CASE OF THE ELDERLY COUPLE WHO NEARLY DIED AFTER THEY GOT CAUGHT UP IN YET ANOTHER PURSUIT.

GAY YEE>> ANNA AND HENRY POLIVODA WENT FOR A WALK NEAR THE BEVERLY CENTER ON A BUSY SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN MARCH. THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE HIT.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THEY'RE NOT AMBULATORY. THIS HOUSE HAS TURNED INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A REHAB FACILITY WITH WALKERS AND WHEELCHAIRS AND ALL KINDS OF PARAPHERNALIA.

GAY YEE>> YABLOW LEARNED THAT THE PURSUIT STARTED WHEN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICERS TRIED TO PULL OVER A CAR WITH EXPIRED PLATES.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THAT REALLY UPSET ALL OF US VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE SEVERITY OF THE SUSPECT'S VIOLATION WARRANTED A POLICE CHASE THROUGH BUSY CITY STREETS TO WHERE MY PARENTS GOT INJURED. IT JUST MADE NO SENSE.

GAY YEE>> L.A. CITY COUNCILWOMAN, CINDY MISCIKOWSKI, WAS ALREADY QUESTIONING THE POLICY. SHE CHAIRS THE COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

CINDY MISCIKOWSKI>> I HAVE JUST SEEN PRELIMINARY REPORTS ON THE TWO ACCIDENTS AND, AT LEAST PRELIMINARILY, BOTH SEEM TO HAVE BEEN "WITHIN POLICY". THAT CAUSES US TO HAVE SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE POLICY ITSELF, IF THAT KIND OF "IN POLICY" PURSUIT CAN LEAD TO THOSE KINDS OF TRAGEDIES. THE QUESTION IS, DOES THE POLICY NEED TO BE TIGHTENED, AND I THINK IT SERIOUSLY DOES.

GAY YEE>> ACLU PRESIDENT, RAMONA RIPSTON, IS JOINING THE CALL FOR RE-EVALUATION. SHE SENT THE POLICE COMMISSION A REPORT HER ORGANIZATION ISSUED IN 1996 CALLED "NOT JUST ISOLATED INCIDENTS: THE EPIDEMIC OF POLICE PURSUITS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA".

RAMONA RIPSTON>> WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT ENGAGES IN HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS NO MATTER WHAT. WE FOUND AT THAT TIME THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT, SO THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN POLICIES WHICH POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE.

GAY YEE>> THE LAPD'S DOAN SAYS THE ISSUE IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. CRITICS HAVE TOLD HIM THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ADOPT A PURSUIT POLICY MORE LIKE SANTA MONICA'S WHERE OFFICERS CAN'T CHASE DRIVERS OF STOLEN CARS.

DAVID DOAN>> THE SANTA MONICA POLICY, WHILE IT SAYS YOU DON'T CHASE PEOPLE FOR STOLEN CARS, IT DOES SAY YOU CHASE PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. DRIVING UP ON THE SIDEWALK WHERE PEDESTRIANS ARE MEETS THAT DEFINITION IN SANTA MONICA'S POLICY.

GAY YEE>> BUT DOAN'S REASONING ESCAPES STEPHANY YABLOW.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THE ELDERLY COUPLE. IT’S SUCH A NEBULOUS LITTLE TONE, BUT THOSE ARE MY PARENTS. IT WAS JUST SO DEVASTATING TO THINK THAT MOM IS SEVENTY-SIX, DAD IS SEVENTY-NINE. THEY SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST AND HERE THEY ARE IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS AND THEY WERE ROBBED OF THEIR GOLDEN YEARS BECAUSE OF THIS SENSELESS POLICE PURSUIT.

VAL>> JOINING US NOW ARE TWO OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE STORY YOU JUST SAW. RAMONA RIPSTON, SHE’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ACLU OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND STEPHANY YABLOW, WHOSE PARENTS ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM BEING RUN DOWN DURING A PURSUIT NEAR THE BEVERLY CENTER. STEPHANY, I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW ARE YOUR PARENTS DOING?

STEPHANY YABLOW>> WELL, BETTER THAN ON MARCH 16, BUT THEY HAVE A VERY LONG WAY TO GO.

VAL>> AND NOT ANYWHERE NEAR FULLY RECOVERED?

STEPHANY YABLOW>> NO, NOT ANYWHERE NEAR.

VAL>> AND, AGAIN, THEY WERE VICTIMS OF A CHASE THAT WAS MOTIVATED BY WHAT KIND OF VIOLATION?

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THE SUSPECT’S VEHICLE REGISTRATION WAS EXPIRED.

VAL>> WHICH CLEARLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED A MINOR --

STEPHANY YABLOW>> -- VERY MINOR INFRACTION.

VAL>> THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO CHANGE, IS THAT RIGHT?

RAMONA RIPSTON>> WE’VE BEEN TRYING SINCE 1996 WHEN WE ISSUED A REPORT THAT RECOMMENDED THAT POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT ENGAGE IN A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT FOR A MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATION, FAILURE TO STOP AT A FULL STOP LINE, A TAILLIGHT BROKEN, EXPIRED PLATES. IT IS JUST TOO DANGEROUS. IT’S DANGEROUS TO INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AND IT’S DANGEROUS TO POLICE OFFICERS. OTHER CITIES HAVE OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM BY CHASING POLICIES.

VAL>> THAT’S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU. WHERE DOES L.A. STAND IN TERMS OF THIS CHASING FOR MINOR OFFENSE POLICY? SOME CITIES HAVE CLEARLY OUTLAWED IT AND MADE IT, WHAT, IT HAS TO BE A FELONY OR EVEN A --

RAMONA RIPSTON>> -- IT SHOULD BE A VIOLENT FELONY BEFORE YOU ENGAGE IN A PURSUIT. THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT HAS A BETTER POLICY. BOSTON HAS A BETTER POLICY. THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. IN FACT, WE’RE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES THAT STILL LET THE OFFICERS DRIVING THE CAR DECIDE WHETHER THEY’RE GOING TO BEGIN THE PURSUIT. NOBODY ELSE HAS TO GIVE THEM ADVICE, HAS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS. THEY CAN JUST BEGIN WHEN THEY WANT TO.

VAL>> WHICH LEADS US INTO THE SECOND REFORM. NOT JUST RESTRICTING THE CHASES TO FELONIES AND SERIOUS OFFENSES, BUT GIVING CONTROL OF THE CHASE TO AN OFFICER OUTSIDE OF THE CAR? HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THE CAR PROCEDURES, WHICH NOBODY REALLY FOLLOWS BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE TO, INCLUDE THE WATCH COMMANDER AS PART OF THE PURSUIT TEAM. THE OFFICERS IN WHAT IS CALLED THE PRIMARY PURSUIT VEHICLE, WHEN THEY INITIATE A PURSUIT, ARE SUPPOSED TO CALL THE WATCH COMMANDER AND GIVE HIM THE INFORMATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT I’M NOT CERTAIN IF THEY ALWAYS DO AND HOW MUCH CONTROL OR SUPERVISION THERE IS.

VAL>> HOW PRACTICAL IS THAT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HERE YOU ARE, YOU’VE GOT A SUSPECT MAYBE GETTING AWAY AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE TIME AND GET THE WATCH COMMANDER AND GIVE HIM ALL THAT INFORMATION.

RAMONA RIPSTON>> BUT THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE WATCH COMMANDER.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> AND ALSO, THEY’VE GOT TWO PEOPLE. YOU’VE GOT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE PASSENGER. THE OFFICER WHO IS THE PASSENGER IS THE ONE WHO DOES ALL THE COMMUNICATING AND THAT’S WHY THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN THERE. SO THAT’S HOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO WORK AND THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO CALL IN AN AIRSHIP.

VAL>> AND THE IDEA IS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO -- YOU KNOW, YOUR ADRENALIN IS PUMPING, YOU CAN GET CARRIED AWAY. THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT THE ONES WHO ARE ALSO MAKING THE DECISION. THAT’S THE IDEA?

RAMONA RIPSTON>> THAT’S THE IDEA. THE OTHER THING IS HELICOPTER TRACING. YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT LESS TRAFFIC UP THERE THAN THERE IS ON THE STREET (LAUGHTER) AND A HELICOPTER CAN FOLLOW A FLEEING CAR. LOOK, NOBODY IS SUGGESTING THAT POLICE OFFICERS NEVER UNDERTAKE A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME REASON. THE OFFICERS HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT PERHAPS A FELONY HAS BEEN COMMITTED, A VIOLENT FELONY, THE PERSON HAS A GUN AND IS A DANGER TO HIMSELF OR HERSELF. BUT JUST TO BEGIN IT BECAUSE THERE’S A MINOR TRAFFIC INFRACTION REALLY MEANS THAT YOU’RE UNDERTAKING A DANGEROUS OBJECT.

VAL>> NOW YOU’VE BEEN WORKING ON REFORM SINCE 1996, BUT YOU NOW DO HAVE AN ADVOCATE AND HE’S THE NEW L.A. POLICE CHIEF, BILL BRATTON, RIGHT?

RAMONA RIPSTON>> THAT’S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. I THINK ALSO THE HEAD OF THE POLICE COMMISSION MAY ALSO SUPPORT THIS REFORM.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> RICK CARUSO, IF I MAY INTERVENE, IS ADVOCATING A STRONGER, MORE RESTRICTIVE POLICY THAN WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AS OF THIS LAST TUESDAY BY THE LAPD. MR. CARUSO WANTS ONE MORE STUDY DONE OF COMPARISONS WITH THE JURISDICTIONS WHERE THE POLICY IS RESTRICTED ONLY TO VIOLENT FELONIES. I’M VERY GRATIFIED THAT, SINCE MARCH 16 WHEN I GOT INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS, THAT WE ARE MAKING HEADWAY AND THAT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD THING.

VAL>> BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE POLICE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB. YOU TAKE THE CASE LAST NIGHT. AT 2:30 IN THE MORNING, IT WAS GANG MEMBERS AGAINST THE POLICE, THEY HAD MACHINE GUNS, THEY WERE FIRING, THEY WERE CHASING THEM. I MEAN, THOSE POLICE OFFICERS HAD TO BE ABLE TO GO AFTER THESE GUYS, NO HOLDS BARRED.

RAMONA RIPSTON>> IF A POLICE OFFICER HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE GUNS IN A FLEEING CAR, THAT THEY’VE DONE SOMETHING THAT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A VIOLENT FELONY, YES, THEY SHOULD PURSUE. BUT IT ISN’T ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT CRIMES WHO FLEE.

VAL>> BUT YESTERDAY’S ENCOUNTER WAS BASED JUST ON A MINOR INFRACTION. AGAIN, IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD NORMALLY --

RAMONA RIPSTON>> -- I’D BET THEY HAD SOME OTHER REASON ALSO, SOME REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THESE GUYS IN THAT CAR WERE MORE THAN JUST ORDINARY FOLKS OUT FOR A STROLL. FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS 2:30 IN THE MORNING. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FLEE THE POLICE SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY’RE AFRAID OF POLICE OFFICERS. PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE OFTEN AFRAID OF POLICE OFFICERS. YOU MIGHT BE AFRAID THAT YOUR INSURANCE IS GOING TO GO UP. YOU MIGHT BE KIDS WHO HAVE BORROWED YOUR PARENTS’ CAR AND YOU DON’T WANT YOUR PARENTS TO KNOW THAT YOU WERE SPEEDING OR THAT THE TAILLIGHT IS BROKEN. SO YOU CAN’T ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY WHO BEGINS TO FLEE IS A FELON.

VAL>> I WANT TO BRING UP ANOTHER REALLY INTERESTING ISSUE AND THAT IS THE ONE OF OFFICER IMMUNITY. THERE’S A STATE LAW THAT BASICALLY PROTECTS OFFICERS FROM INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY IF THEY SHOULD INJURE OR KILL SOMEBODY IN THE COURSE OF POLICE PURSUIT. IS THIS A GOOD LAW?

RAMONA RIPSTON>> NO, I DON’T THINK IT’S A GOOD LAW. I’VE JUST LEARNED BECAUSE I WASN’T AWARE OF IT THAT IT ALSO PROTECTS THE CITY. IT GIVES THE CITY IMMUNITY IF IN FACT THE PERSON WHO WAS FLEEING HITS THE CAR OR CAUSES INJURY TO BYSTANDERS OR TO ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE. THEN THIS LAW IS IN PLACE.

VAL>> I SEE. SO WHEN THE SUSPECT’S CAR, LIKE THE LITTLE INFANT WHO HAD HIS ARM SEVERED --

STEPHANY YABLOW>> -- IN MY PARENTS’ INCIDENT, IT WAS THE SUSPECT’S VEHICLE THAT INJURED MY PARENTS, SO THE ENTIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS IMMUNE UNDER THIS --

VAL>> -- SO THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO IN TERMS OF LITIGATION?

STEPHANY YABLOW>> NOT UNDER STATE LAW. THERE IS A NEW CASE THAT JUST CAME DOWN ON JULY 26, CALIFORNIA APPELLATE COURT, THE FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT. THE COURT HAD TO UPHOLD THAT LAW AND HOLD THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER NOT LIABLE, BUT THE JUSTICE WHO WROTE THE OPINION HAD SOME VERY, VERY SCATHING REMARKS ABOUT THAT IMMUNITY AND HE THINKS THAT THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO REVIEW THAT BECAUSE IT’S JUST TOO BLANKET.

VAL>> TOO BLANKET. A LOT OF THINGS WILL BE CHANGING, I THINK, IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO. I WANT TO THANK, ONCE AGAIN, RAMONA RIPSTON FROM THE ACLU OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR BEING HERE. AND STEPHANY YABLOW, OUR BEST WISHES, OF COURSE, TO YOUR PARENTS.

RAMONA RIPSTON>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THANK YOU.

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VAL>> IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN MANY PEOPLE GET IN TOUCH WITH THEIR SPIRITUAL SIDE, BUT THE YOUNG LADY YOU’RE ABOUT TO MEET IS TUNED INTO A HIGHER PLANE YEAR ROUND. SHE’S A FOLLOWER OF BUDDHISM AND IS ONE OF THE TEENAGERS PROFILED IN THE NEW DOCUMENTARY WE’VE BEEN FEATURING ALL THIS WEEK. IT’S CALLED “WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?” AND HERE’S CARINA’S STORY.

CARINA LIEU>> IN BUDDHISM, WE BELIEVE IN CAUSE AND EFFECT. SOMETHING I DO NOW MIGHT NOT AFFECT ME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT IT WILL AFFECT ME SOMETIME DURING MY LIFE. WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN CAUSE AND EFFECT, REALISTICALLY THERE IS NO DESTINY. YOU CREATE IT YOURSELF. SO THAT’S WHY, YOU KNOW, YOU STRIVE TO LIVE THE BEST WAY YOU CAN SO THAT, IN THE FUTURE, YOUR EFFECTS WILL COME OUT POSITIVE.

[FILM CLIP]

CARINA LIEU>> SOME BUDDHISTS DO BELIEVE THAT BUDDHA IS A GOD, BUT I DON’T BELIEVE THAT HE IS A GOD. I BELIEVE THAT HE’S A TEACHER. BUDDHA WAS A PERSON JUST LIKE US. HE WAS JUST AN ENLIGHTENED ONE AND, AS AN ENLIGHTENED ONE, HE IS OUR TEACHER TO LEAD US TO THE PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT. BUDDHA WAS ENLIGHTENED ABOUT TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE REACHED ENLIGHTENMENT. BECAUSE BUDDHA UNDERSTANDS SUFFERING, HE UNDERSTANDS LIFE. YOU KNOW, HE HAS THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING.

IT’S HARD TO BE A STRICT BUDDHIST LIVING IN AMERICA BECAUSE THE VALUE SYSTEM FORCES ME TO WANT TO DO THINGS THAT GO AGAINST THE BUDDHIST VALUES. LIKE WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT MEAT OR KILL LIVING THINGS AND THEN THERE’S FAST FOOD BURGERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THEN EVERYONE IS LOOKING OUT TO GET AHEAD OF THE OTHER PERSON, TO GET AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, AND WE’RE TAUGHT TO NEVER BE HAPPY AND TO ALWAYS WANT MORE.

CHRISTIANITY AND THE BELIEF IN GOD IS SO PERVASIVE. ANYWHERE IN AMERICA, EVEN AT SCHOOL, PEOPLE MAKE THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE A BELIEF IN GOD. MY BOYFRIEND USED TO GO TO CHURCH AND THINGS LIKE THAT. HE PRAYS TO GOD AND THAT DOESN’T BOTHER ME. I BELIEVE THAT, IF IT HELPS HIM AND IT MAKES HIM FEEL SECURE AND IT HELPS HIM BECOME A BETTER PERSON, THEN IT’S PERFECTLY FINE JUST AS LONG IN YOUR RELIGION YOU’RE NOT EXCLUSIVE AND YOU DON’T TRY TO CONVERT PEOPLE. WHEN SOMEONE MANIPULATES RELIGION IN THAT WAY AND MAKES IT LIKE CONTEMPTUOUS TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NONBELIEVERS, IT DEFEATS THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF RELIGION.

IN BUDDHISM, WE WANT TO END SUFFERING FOR EVERYONE. I WAS TAKING THE BUS ONE DAY, LIKE A BUS ROUTE THAT I NORMALLY DON’T TAKE. I JUST SAW A LOT OF THINGS THAT MADE ME UNHAPPY. LIKE THERE’S THIS ONE MAN AND HE HAD LIKE A CART AND HE WAS LYING ON THE GRASS WITH HIS FACE DOWN. I STOPPED A LITTLE AND I STARTED WALKING REALLY SLOWLY AND I WALKED PAST HIM JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WAS OKAY. THE MAILMAN WALKS PAST ME AND GOES, “IT’S OKAY. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH HIM.” HE JUST COMPLETELY DISMISSED THIS MAN WHO PROBABLY HAD LIKE A MILLION PROBLEMS AND THAT’S WHY HE WAS LYING ON THE GRASS, YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FACE DOWN. THAT’S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THIS WORLD, HOW SELFISH PEOPLE HAVE BECOME.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MINDFULNESS, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT BEING MINDFUL OF THE PRESENT MOMENT AND BEING APPRECIATIVE OF LIFE. YOU SEE THINGS SO CLEARLY THAT THERE IS NO CONFUSION. EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED. EVERYTHING IS LINKED. WHEN I LOOK AT MONKS AND NUNS, I FEEL LIKE THEY’RE SO LUCKY. THEY’RE SO PEACEFUL AND THEY GET TO REALLY, REALLY PRACTICE A LIFE WHERE THEY’RE COMPLETELY MINDFUL AND CALM. I MEAN, I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT WHEN I GET OLDER. THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN SEX AND TV AND FANCY FOOD AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING LOTS OF MONEY. THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO LIFE THAN THAT AND REACHING A HIGHER STATE OF MIND IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO DO.

VAL>> “WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?” IS PRODUCED BY INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER, SARAH FEINBLOOM. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FULL DOCUMENTARY BY LOGGING ONTO WHATDOYOUBELIEVE.ORG. AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG FOR THE LATEST CALIFORNIA NEWS AND UPDATES ON WHAT WE’RE PLANNING.

THAT’S TONIGHT’S PROGRAM. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

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