Policewoman Who Fell for Student Fired

An undercover Los Angeles policewoman whose romantic relationship with a Kennedy High School student scuttled an undercover drug investigation at the Granada Hills school has been dismissed from the force, police said Friday.

The officer, whose name and age were not disclosed, was notified of Police Chief Daryl F. Gates’ decision on Friday, Cmdr. William Booth said.

The Police Department said that the officer exercised “extremely bad judgment” in becoming involved with the student, a 17-year-old varsity football player, while she was working undercover.

Cases were dismissed against nine suspected drug dealers arrested by the policewoman last fall because the incident could have called her actions--and possibly the 13-year-old undercover program--into question, authorities said.

“It was a prohibited manner of behavior to attempt to convert an on-duty contact into a social relationship,” Booth said, “and the investigation established that that had been done. . . . This was very severe misconduct and, therefore, severe discipline was warranted, which was termination.”

The policewoman’s firing is tentative because she has five days to file an appeal. The appeal would result in a hearing before an LAPD hearing officer, who could recommend a reconsideration by the police chief, Booth said. The chief’s decision then would be final.