Following a forum between Los Angeles Police Department administrative officials, the Department of Public Safety, and students at University of Southern California, the captain of the Southwest Division of the LAPD admitted that there is a possibility that racial profiling may have occurred during the break up of a party near the university last Friday night.

"I'm not going to deny that there might have been racial profiling," said Captain Paul Snell, who participated as one of the members of the panel during the forum on Tuesday night. "[The officers] are in a investigation regarding their actions."

Six students were arrested and one officer was hospitalized for minor injuries during the break up of a party hosted by African American students at USC by the LAPD. According to first-hand reports by students attending the party, approximately 79 officers, some in riot gear, and a helicopter were brought in after calls for help from the primary responders to a noise complaint. 

MORE: Read details about the party here

Snell also explained why none of the officers who responded to the party were present at the panel that night.

"This is a forum where the administration is addressing issues," said Snell. "We cannot just start releasing names. We are very careful about these investigations."

Commander Bill Scott of the LAPD, who also participated on the panel, further clarified the LAPD's position and said the allegations of racial profiling were being taken into serious consideration during the investigation.

"If anything's going to change, it starts here," Scott said. "Based on what they saw and how [the officers] were perceived, I could see somebody believing what they believe."

Scott also spoke about the investigation into the officers' conduct.

"There's a ton of video," Scott said, "[but] you don't want to be too premature."

 

Reach Assistant News Editor Nandini Ruparel here.