LAPD Probing Allegations Officers Sold Pilfered Gun Parts

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating allegations raised by the former commander of the department’s firearms and explosives section that officers in the unit stripped hundreds of confiscated guns destined for destruction and sold the parts for personal profit.

Lt. Jimmie J. Finn, a highly decorated 23-year police veteran, has told internal investigators that members of the 20-man unit took gun parts that did not have serial numbers--allegedly so they could not be traced--and marketed them at swap meets and civilian gun shows.

In addition, Finn has alleged in interviews with investigators and civilian police commissioners that members of the unit took without authorization from the Police Department’s property rooms thousands of rounds of confiscated ammunition to sell or use themselves.

Some of the ammunition, other sources said, may have been traded to the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton for military camping equipment and choice seats at Marine air shows.

Finn has alleged further that his supervisors refused to investigate the matter when he repeatedly brought it to their attention in 1987 and 1988, and that he was transferred to a desk job in the department’s planning and research division, where he remains today.

Only after Finn approached members of the civilian Los Angeles Police Commission in November, 1988, did the Internal Affairs Division begin an inquiry, sources said.

Police officials would not discuss the case Tuesday because, they said, it remains under investigation.