An LAPD Deputy Chief publicly and falsely smeared outspoken critic Jason Reedy as a “child molester” during the 2025 Kingdom Day parade. The incident is part of a broader pattern of LAPD officers making defamatory claims about Reedy, including insinuations that he is a killer and wife beater.
Despite formal complaints, the department labeled the conduct “No Misconduct,” while the Chief of Police and Police Commission declined to respond.
This article documents the misconduct, the lack of accountability, and the danger of the LAPD weaponizing false smears against their critics.
On January 19, 2025, during the MLK Jr. Kingdom Day parade, LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton made baseless and defamatory accusations that his critic was a “child molester.”
I stayed here for you. I’ve gotta watch the kids to make sure the kids don’t get molested. I know your past, man. I know your past. That’s my job to know your past. I know enough. […] Stop molesting kids.”
Making false statements to smear Reedy as a child molester–in public–was not an isolated incident. It was part of a pattern.
Deputy Chief Hamilton calls critic a “child molester.”
On June 9, 2025, Deputy Chief Hamilton was supervising officers outside of LAPD headquarters when Officer Rick Linton committed an unlawful use of force against Jason Reedy.
Despite Reedy posing no threat and having his hands raised—an, Linton shot him with a “less-lethal” 40mm foam round.
An attorney who witnessed the shooting asked Hamilton to instruct the officer, Rick Linton, to identify himself. Hamilton but Hamilton refused.
Soon after, Linton shot the attorney with less lethals, also.
Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton supervises Reedy shooting
On February 19, 2024, LAPD continued their smear campaign when Senior Lead Officer Edward Kellogg insinuated that Jason Reedy was both a wife beater and a killer.
Can’t wait to see your wife. I’ll see her, she’s here. Just wonder how bad you treat her at home. How you talk to her with that language, with that mouth of yours. You’ve got a temper, you’ve got a temper. That’s one of the first signs of somebody with domestic violence. Is that why you don’t like us? Huh? Have the police responded to your house for that?”
Senior Lead Officer Edward Kellogg insinuates Reedy is killer and wife beater at a community event
On March 28, 2024, inside the Metro Los Angeles building, LAPD Lt. Matthew Ensley ordered Jason Reedy to leave. Ensley’s justified his order for Reedy to leave by erroneously stating:
You have a reputation of battery. You’ve been arrested for it.”
Ironically, Ensley’s comments came days before Ensley himself was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for felony DUI following a crash that injured two people.
About a year later, Ensley was arrested—again—for driving with a restricted license.
Lieutenant Ensley falsely claims Reedy has been arrested for battery
A complaint filed against Senior Lead Officer Edward Kellogg for insinuating Jason Reedy as being a killer and wife beater.
The LAPD classified Kellogg’s smears against Reedy as “No Misconduct.”
Your allegation that an employee made an improper remark has been classified as No Misconduct, which means that the act alleged did not rise to the level of misconduct and/or the named employees’ actions were protected by law or found to be consistent with Department policy or procedure.”
Reply letter for complaint filed against LAPD Officer Edward Kellogg
During the Kingdom Day parade in Leimert Park on February 17, 2025, I asked Chief McDonnell why the smears against Jason Reedy were determined to be “in-policy”:
You have nothing to say to Jason? Nothing to say? When your senior lead officer is running around calling him a murderer, and calling him a wife beater—in public—and then you said it was non-disciplinary? Non-discliplinary? You don’t want to speak on it? Got nothing to say? Got nothing to say, Chief?”
Chief McDonnell refused to respond.
LAPD Chief McDonnell confronted at the 2025 Kingdom Day parade
I then confronted the LAPD Commission about why this complaint was determined to be non-disciplinary. I made sure to remind them that smears claiming a person is a wife beater and murderer puts the accused at risk.
He sent me a reply letter back that said it was non-disciplinary. Calling him a murderer, lying on him, is non-disciplinary. Calling him a wife beater is non-disciplinary. They’re allowed to just lie like that [Commissioner] Shields? They’re allowed to lie like that [Commissioner] Southers. So when I asked him about it to his face, the only thing he could say was “good morning.””
The LAPD Commission failed to respond.
Addressing the LAPD Police Commission
When an officer publicly labels someone a child molester, killer, or wife beater, people are more likely to believe it because the accusation comes from law enforcement.
False claims cause real harm: they damage reputations, jeopardize employment, and put the accused person’s safety at risk. Since the LAPD has made serious and false allegations against Jason Reedy, the department has a duty to publicly correct the record as a minimum step to prevent Reedy from being targeted for harm.
Failure to address and correct these smears sends a clear message to officers that this conduct is acceptable—leading to further escalation and more serious misconduct.