Inglewood chief defends actions on shootings

Defending her management of a long-troubled department, Inglewood Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks told reporters Wednesday that she helped initiate an independent review of her agency after the first of a spate of officer-involved shootings that left three people dead.

Seabrooks said she also stood by her decision to return Officers Brian Ragan and Roman Fernandez to active duty a month after the May 11 shooting that left Michael Byoune, 19, dead and two others wounded. The officers mistakenly believed the unarmed men were shooting at them, police said.

The victims’ families have since filed a $25-milllion lawsuit against the city and the Police Department.

On July 21, Ragan fatally shot Kevin Wicks, 38, while responding to a family disturbance call at his apartment complex. Police said Ragan shot Wicks after he raised a gun at officers.

Wicks’ family maintains that officers went to the wrong address and that police did not properly identify themselves. The family has filed two lawsuits, both targeting the city and department.

Seabrooks said her department followed standard police protocol when Ragan was returned to duty after the first shooting and that she had “no way of foreseeing a series of events that would occur when he was returned to duty.” Ragan is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the latest shooting.

The chief’s comments came during her first formal meeting with reporters since the Wicks shooting.

Seabrooks, who was hired last year to head the department and has come under harsh criticism for her handling of the shootings and failure to speak out earlier, said she planned to hold regular news conferences to provide more accountability for the department.

On July 30, in the wake of the Wicks shooting, the City Council agreed to hire the Office of Independent Review of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to examine the Police Department’s operations and make recommendations. But Seabrooks said she helped initiate this review 2 1/2 months ago because of her own concerns.

“Let’s be realistic,” she said. “I’ve been the chief here for 10 1/2 months. I’ve inherited an organization that’s had its challenges over time.”

In addition to Wicks and Byoune, Ruben Walton Ortega, a 23-year-old alleged gang member, was shot and killed by an Inglewood police officer July 1 when he reportedly reached into his waistband as he ran from an officer. Police said the officer believed Ortega was armed.

Michael Gennaco, chief attorney for the Office of Independent Review, said at the news conference that the examination of the Police Department would begin soon and cover training, supervision, policy and protocol. He could not say when the investigation would be complete.

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joanna.lin@latimes.com