Recruits’ reference checks in dispute

At least 16 Los Angeles police officers or recruits who joined the force in the last year may be on the job without proper background checks after a city screener allegedly signed off on hiring recruits without checking personal and employment references for disqualifying issues, officials said Friday.

As a result, City Council members called for an examination into whether officers had been hired without meeting department standards, and whether the job of checking the background of recruits should be transferred from the personnel department to the Police Department.

“There is a concern of public safety,” said Councilman Dennis Zine. “A lot of people are disqualified by background checks, so my fear is there are people who are somewhere in the process who have backgrounds who could pose a jeopardy to the city of Los Angeles.”

Zine introduced a motion with Councilman Greig Smith calling for a review, which would include finding out why the LAPD was not warned about the problem for more than a week.

Zine said the unidentified employee -- who has since resigned under pressure -- worked for the personnel department as a background checker for a year.

A personnel department executive said it was likely that 16 recruits were affected by the incomplete checking. Most of those recruits are still in the Police Academy and will have their references rechecked.

Because the recruits had criminal history checks done separately, Gloria Sosa, personnel assistant general manager, said she did not think serious issues of drug abuse or criminal histories were missed.

Still, Sosa’s office may be stripped of the job.

The council motion asks for a report from the city administrative officer on “the practicality of returning the primary responsibility of police recruitment from the personnel department to the LAPD.”

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patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com