As President of the Los Angeles Police Commission, Teresa Sanchez-Gordon has refused to exercise oversight over the LAPD’s escalating assaults against journalists.
For months, she and the Commission ignored clear LAPD violations of both California Penal Code 409.7(a) — which protects reporters at protests — and a federal restraining order prohibiting police from detaining or assaulting members of the press.
President Sanchez-Gordon’s silence and inaction has emboldened the LAPD allowing the problem to intensify: more than a dozen reporters have been injured or unlawfully detained while covering protests.
Video presented to LAPD Commission detailing LAPD assaults on press
On October 18, 2025 the LAPD deployed 40mm “less-lethal” projectiles to disperse the crowd — a tactic that violates the department’s own policy. During this dispersal, officers targeted reporter Lexis-Olivier Ray.
This not only violated California Penal Code §409.7(a), but also defied an active federal restraining order and injunction prohibiting police from assaulting or detaining members of the press.
Ray was clearly identifiable as media, wearing both a press lanyard and clothing labeled “PRESS.” An LAPD officer justified the shooting by claiming he was “fake press.”
Despite being presented with video evidence and questions about the incident, LAPD Commission President Teresa Sanchez-Gordon has refused to comment — a clear failure of oversight on her part.
Video presented to LAPD Commission detailing LAPD shooting at reporter Lexis-Olivier Ray