The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) report on its handling of the March Echo Park demonstrations was approved by the Los Angeles Police Commission on Aug. 3, citing many challenges the department faced during and after their attempt to clear the park of homeless encampments.  The city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the LAPD attempted to close Echo Park in March to conduct repairs to the park as part of a $500,000 rehabilitation effort spearheaded by Los Angeles Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell.   According to the report, the only closure-related crimes “were crimes against officers and Department property, committed by protestors,” including vandalism and assault with a deadly weapon.  Officers clashed with protesters and social justice groups, including some of the unhoused, as they attempted to clear the park; the LAPD declared unlawful assembly twice that evening after officers were attacked with rocks, bottles and smoke bombs, according to tweets by the LAPD. In response to the projectiles, police fired “less …