A final note to this thread I've seen a number of comments criticize the reporting, inferring that it's the press that's generating the fear and confusion here

A final note to this thread I've seen a number of comments criticize the reporting, inferring that it's the press that's generating the fear and confusion here. I think this is in error. The press may be guilty of amplifying FUD but it is obvious that the creation and shape of this particular narrative is from the LAPD. Is the LAT guilty of parroting LEO w/o providing sufficient analysis? That sounds reasonable to me. News orgs republishing Gov/Biz/LEO PR - w/o analysis or related context - happens pretty much every day in every US town. But criticizing the press (again, reasonably) while giving the cops who designed and crafted the FUD a pass - I think this shows us that tribalism is rating higher than fixing broken things.