However, in spite of the fact that the Rodney King verdict catalyzed these riots in 1992, there were other contributing factors to the riots. One such contributing factor was the rampant escalation of police presence in response to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The games, while they were incredibly profitable, on the other hand, were also responsible for the militarization the Los Angeles Police Department. The 1984 games served as a spectacle of American prosperity and success; an image which was threatened by the rising gang violence and drug crimes in nearby South Central. The local law enforcement. FBI. and Department of Defense invested $20 million to “sanitize the area,” and adopted strict anti-crime policies. However, while