Detective Who Was Reprimanded Sues LAPD, City for $2 Million

A Los Angeles police detective reprimanded because of his ties to an allegedly corrupt former Mexico City police chief filed a $2-million lawsuit in federal court Tuesday accusing the Police Department, Chief Daryl F. Gates and the city of violating his constitutional right to freedom of association.

The suit stems from a 1984 incident in which veteran organized crime detective Kenneth P. Hamilton flew to Puerto Rico at the invitation and expense of former Mexico City Police Chief Arturo Durazo and his family.

Durazo stood accused of several corruption-related charges in Mexico at the time and was arrested by the FBI in Puerto Rico. He is now in federal custody awaiting extradition proceedings.

Hamilton was reprimanded by the department for neglect of duty in failing to notify U.S. officials of Durazo’s whereabouts and for ac cepting a gratuity. He was also transferred from the Organized Crime Division to a routine detective beat.

The civil suit filed Tuesday by Hamilton’s attorney, Stephen Yagman, charged that police officials disciplined Hamilton “to distance themselves and the Police Department” from him because they “perceived that (Hamilton’s) association with the Durazos did or would bring embarrassment” to the department.

Hamilton has told The Times that he flew to Puerto Rico while off duty to lend “moral support” to Durazo and his family because the former police chief planned to surrender to authorities then. He said he had met Durazo in Mexico on department business two years ago and had become friendly with him since then.

Also named in the suit were Assistant Chief Robert Vernon; Hamilton’s former supervisor, Capt. Stuart Finck, commanding officer of the Organized Crime Division, and Capt. Jerry Bova, commanding officer of the Internal Affairs Division.

A Police Department spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit.