LAPD was quick to answer Scientology’s call to detain former cop at weekend protest
Bryan Goland, 48, tells us that in 2021 he left the LAPD after nearly 20 years to get a job he enjoys much more: Providing security to high-profile celebrities like Elton John.
And on Saturday, he agreed to help out Alexa Nikolas, an actress Goland has worked for in the past who is known for the Nickelodeon series Zoey 101. She’s become an activist who has held numerous protests about abusive Hollywood figures. This time, she was aiming at Scientology celebrity and convicted rapist Danny Masterson, whose victims testified that the church protected him from prosecution for years.
Dozens of protesters showed up for the demonstration outside Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre, and Goland says he enjoyed meeting the people protesting Masterson and the church.
He admits that he was not really aware of the long-running controversy about Scientology’s cozy relationship with the LAPD’s Hollywood Division, which we have documented here over the years, and which became an issue in the Masterson prosecution. (Goland spent most of his career in South Central, as well as stints in West LA and West Valley.)
Saturday, Goland said he got a first-hand lesson in how quickly the LAPD answers Scientology’s call.
As a former LAPD officer, Goland is licensed to carry a firearm, and he had a sidearm on his belt as he approached the protest. He says he was wearing a blue short sleeve shirt, black slacks, and black shoes, a pretty standard look for someone working security at such an event.
But as he neared the group of protesters, he says someone with Scientology shouted out that he had a gun, and apparently called the LAPD. Within seconds, he says, officers pulled up and detained him, slapped handcuffs on him, and stuffed him in the back of a patrol car, where he remained for the next hour and forty minutes.
“I have a gun card. They had that in their possession. And after an hour I’m still in the back of a patrol car,” he complains. And he was in some significant pain, as well.
“They did the twist technique on the wrist bone with the handcuffs. You do that to someone who is acting up. I was not acting up,” he says. “The only smart-ass thing I said to them was I worked at LAPD longer than all of them combined.” (He sent us the photo above to show that the handcuffs had left marks on his wrists.)
But the most disconcerting part, he adds, was that they began accusing him of carrying a stolen gun.
It wasn’t stolen, but after they finally released him, he wanted to know why they had told him that it was.
“No one would answer the question,” he says.
From their behavior, he surmised that they knew they had made a mistake.
“I can tell you they were embarrassed because they fucked up,” Goland says. “I threatened kidnap charges if they took me to the station. I know my laws.”
We asked him if, based on how quickly the officers answered Scientology’s call, he thought that the church was getting special treatment.
“The fact that they were there that quick, and that they then kept circling around was mind-blowing to me. There’s definitely something going on,” he says.
Three years ago, we published emails between former Hollywood Division commander Captain Cory Palka and Scientology officials which demonstrated just how cozy the relationship was between the police force and the controversial church. Palka is now the target of multiple investigations about how he used his position to shield former CEO of CBS Les Moonves from a sexual assault investigation, and Leah Remini has called for a thorough investigation of Palka, the Hollywood Division, and Scientology.
Goland’s experience seems to suggest that the LAPD is still at Scientology’s beck and call.
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It is not surprising that the LAPD in Hollywood is still at Scientology’s beck and call.
Here are the three major points why the police still jump when Scientology needs help.
One, every year Celebrity Centre hosts the Christmas Stories fund raiser for the Hollywood divisions charity’s. They donate a minimum of $25,000.00 to the police charity. This mostly comes straight from the church, not the money they actually raise from ticket sales and donations to the Christmas Story celebrity entertainment events. I personally performed at those events for years and was present when an LAPD representative received their super jumbo check for $25,000.00 on stage.
Two, because of the presence of Scientology’s security guards constantly patrolling Big Blue, Celebrity Centre, SMP and the RTC buildings, crime near these buildings is less prevalent. In the eyes of the LAPD this has a very positive effect on the police department’s attitude towards the church. Less work for police is a good thing.
Three, many policemen and women get good paying part time jobs for church events as off duty security guards. That practice has been going on for years.
To the police Scientology is a source of money and less crime. So why wouldn’t they respond quickly when scientology calls.
Forgot that David Miscavige’s organization is fraudulent, commits continuous human rights abuses and protects rapists and criminals. The LAPD turns a blind eye to all that. The church is a wonderful source of money and public safety in the LA area. Who could ask for more?
Huh. The police are blocking off one side of Bronson in that photo. That is a pretty busy street to block off.
In other unrelated comments, that building across the street (where the other police car can be seen) is the building that CC bought in the early 2000’s to house CC staff. I had only been in it before any remodel so it was run down. But it was where ill and terminally ill staff went to rest, or die.
Gosh, that sounds awful. But that’s Scientology for you.