1 LAPD Officer Cleared of Allegations of Hot Tub Sex

In the first of two rulings on the Los Angeles Police Department’s most prolific team of ticket writers, who are facing charges that they had a hot tub party with a young woman while on duty, Officer John Nichols was found innocent of all charges Thursday.

The board of rights, which met late into the evening, made no immediate decision on Nichols’ partner, Officer Kelly (Clickety) Klatt, who faces four similar counts. The board said it would ask Chief Daryl F. Gates to amend one of the charges and will issue its finding on the remaining counts today.

The ruling followed six days of hearings into the allegations that the two motorcycle officers struck up a relationship with Laura Ann Bisho, 23, against department regulations, after stopping her for speeding in July, 1986.

Tells Bizarre Tale

Bisho had told the board of rights a bizarre tale of sexual exploits, not only with Klatt and Nichols, but with a host of other law enforcement officers from various Southland cities. At one point the investigation included allegations against 25 LAPD officers up to the rank of lieutenant.

“I feel like I have my life back,” Nichols said in thanking the hearing officers. He then took a chew of tobacco in celebration. “It went on for so long that win, lose or draw, I just wanted it over.”

Klatt said he is disturbed by the delayed ruling on his charges and the amendment of one count--having converted an on-duty contact into an off-duty relationship.

“It’s disturbing, because I don’t think I’m guilty of any of the charges,” he said.

Klatt’s defense representative, Police Sgt. David Gossman, said that because the charges are so similar to those brought against Nichols, he expects Klatt to be acquitted of all charges, except the one amended count. He said he suspects that the remaining count has to do with several meetings Klatt had with Bisho at a restaurant.

Temporary Suspension

That could bring a temporary suspension from the force. Similar charges against other officers have brought suspension of five to seven days.

The two officers initially faced being fired.

Klatt gained notoriety earlier this year when it was reported that he wrote more traffic tickets than any other LAPD motor officer. Even on the force, he was well known for not taking coffee breaks and for paying $950 for his own radar gun.

He and Nichols once set a department record by handing out 61 jaywalking tickets near the USC campus in a six-hour period.

The case against them turned on the credibility of Bisho.

The defense proved that Bisho had failed a series of lie detector tests; had twice been convicted of harassing Nichols and his family; had been picked up by the LAPD as a suicide attempt, and had admittedly made false entries in her diaries--which were key prosecution exhibits.

8 Deny Allegations

The board also heard from eight law enforcement officers from various Southland cities who, like Klatt and Nichols, denied Bisho’s allegations that they had sexual relations with her.

At one point in the proceedings, hearing officer Capt. Jack Smith asked the defense to halt its procession of witnesses who were countering Bisho’s earlier testimony. “I think we’ve gotten the idea on (her) credibility,” Smith said.

The department’s own advocate, or prosecutor, Sgt. Steve Warren, admitted outside the hearing room last week that Bisho--the star witness and the sole accuser--”is not the most credible witness.”

Thursday night, Warren said he had no comment on the board’s ruling.

Claims Sexual Encounters

Throughout her testimony, Bisho told an unusual tale of sexual encounters in parks, hot tubs and hotels with a series of police officers and one forest ranger. Bisho testified that she had sexual relations with Klatt and Nichols while they were on the job and for several months after she allegedly met them.

The two officers testified, however, that rather than having a personal relationship with Bisho, they had been harassed and victimized.