America's

The tape of Los Angeles lawmen brutalizing Rodney King is not the first to show police taking part in America's ugliest home videos. Across the country, by accident and sometimes by design, cameras have caught law-enforcement officers in a variety of alarming activities, often directed against people in detention. The results have led to felony charges, disciplinary actions and civil lawsuits.

Laguna Beach, Calif. A neighbor across the street from an unruly party on June 17, 1990, recorded a harrowing 90 seconds of violence. Although a car partly blocked the view, an officer can be seen on camera swinging his leg in a kick at Kevin Dunbar, 24, a homeless man, while a number of other officers held him after he refused to obey an order to get down on the ground. The man, his face bleeding, was then lifted to his feet and led away to a squad car. A lawsuit against the Laguna Beach police department was filed last month, and the tapes are expected to be important evidence.

Chicago. Max's Italian Beef Restaurant on the northwest side had a security camera in full view, but the two uniformed police rifling the cash register and prying open the safe last July were too busy to notice. The veteran officers allegedly lifted $7,000. They were indicted and await trial.

Los Angeles. On Aug. 30, 1989, a seven-man narcotics squad from the county sheriff's department was investigating a money-laundering scheme. When the suspects left behind $498,000 in cash, the plainclothesmen skimmed $48,000 in booty. The "money launderers" turned out to be FBI agents, and their hidden cameras were rolling. Charges of conspiracy, theft and tax evasion were brought against the seven for that and other skimming operations. They received prison sentences last week of two to five years.

New York City. Police were trying to enforce an unpopular curfew on Manhattan's Tompkins Square Park, and hundreds of protesters had gathered on Aug. 6, 1988. Without warning, a wave of cops tore into the crowd and began clubbing and kicking demonstrators and bystanders alike. A video artist taped scenes that became key evidence in a trial of five officers. Though none were convicted, the top cop at the park that evening retired, and the police commissioner publicly criticized the actions of New York's finest as leading to unnecessary confrontations.