Weapons Incident Probed

Los Angeles antiterrorism chief John Miller is not authorized to carry the handgun seized by airport officials last week from his carry-on luggage as he went through security at LAX, authorities said Friday.

The Los Angeles Police Department has opened an investigation into the incident to determine whether a crime was committed or department policy was violated. Miller is one of the LAPD’s highest-ranking officers and a confidant of Chief William J. Bratton.

The department and federal authorities had already begun administrative probes into the circumstances of the gun seizure at the airport.

The new “investigation will treat Miller like any other officer or civilian who works for this department,” Deputy Chief Michael Berkow said.

Records show that Bratton had issued a concealed-weapons permit to Miller for a .38-caliber Beretta and two other guns.

But on Sept. 23, federal security personnel seized a .38 Smith & Wesson handgun from his carry-on luggage at Los Angeles International Airport.

Department records show that the LAPD issued the Smith & Wesson to Miller during firearms training in early 2003. But Miller neither applied for nor obtained a permit to carry it, police records show.

Miller said he had forgotten that the gun was in his bag. On Friday, he admitted he had made a mistake.

“Since Sept. 23, I have been open, honest and cooperated fully with the investigation and continue to do so,” Miller said. “I’m sure, in the end, we’ll see these were my paperwork errors with no intent to break any rules.”

During a news conference last week, Bratton called the incident an embarrassment to Miller and the LAPD. He said Miller should do a better job of keeping track of his firearms.

On Friday, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said that under California law, a police chief has the power to issue a concealed-weapons permit to an individual for a variety of reasons related to personal security.

“The permit is issued for specific weapons,” Cooley said. Violations are generally treated as misdemeanors.

Cooley said his office would review the case if asked.

Miller, the head of the Critical Incident Management Bureau, needs special permission to carry any weapon because he is not a sworn officer.

Miller was co-anchor of ABC’s television news show “20/20” when Bratton named him to head security operations in Los Angeles after 9/11.

Miller was first issued a concealed-weapons permit in February 2003 by Bratton for the Beretta. The permit was subsequently amended to include two .45-caliber Glock handguns.

Previously, Miller had a permit to carry various concealed weapons in New York, where he had worked for Bratton as head of the New York Police Department’s public relations wing, according to officials.

L.A. airport police allowed Miller, who was with his wife and daughter, to continue on to New York after questioning him. Miller planned to tape a farewell message for his former “20/20” co-anchor, Barbara Walters.

The Transportation Security Administration, which handles security at the nation’s airports, is continuing to investigate the incident. The agency can levy fines up to $10,000 for taking a firearm through a security checkpoint.

Before joining the LAPD, Miller was a reporter best known for his interviews with mobster John Gotti and Osama bin Laden.

Times staff writer Andrew Blankstein contributed to this report.