Police Officer Fired in Sex Inquiry Wins Reinstatement Plea

A state appellate court has upheld a judge’s order for reinstatement of a Los Angeles Police Department vice lieutenant who was fired for lack of candor in a departmental probe of alleged sexual misconduct.

Lt. Ronald Williams, a 20-year veteran of the force, was accused two years ago of lying to police investigators and a departmental board of rights about allegations that he had shown sexually explicit videos to two teen-age girls.

The 46-year-old officer could not be disciplined on more serious misconduct charges because the misconduct complaints were made after the one-year statute of limitations had expired.

Penalty ‘Too Severe’

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Miriam Vogel--while admitting she would have upheld the firing if the sexual misconduct charges were under consideration--ruled in May, 1988, that dismissal was “too severe” a penalty for simple lack of candor during the investigation.

“By imposing the ultimate penalty, (the department) takes all meaning from the statute of limitations,” she said, ordering the department to impose some penalty short of termination.

The city then challenged the judge’s ruling before the 2nd District Court of Appeal, arguing that the Government Code imposes a duty on peace officers to cooperate in internal investigations. The city said the penalty imposed by the board was appropriate.

Last Thursday, the appellate court affirmed Judge Vogel’s ruling.

“It appears clear from the record that the board was punishing Williams for his alleged sexual impropriety and not for his failure to ‘accurately respond’ to questions,” the appellate court said.

Court’s Reasoning

“In light of the limited nature of the accusations brought against Williams, the history of temperate penalties previously metered (sic) in cases of similar officer misconduct and Williams’ own commanding officer’s recommendation (that the lieutenant only be suspended), we find that the penalty of termination . . . was grossly excessive,” the court said.

Attorney Laurence B. Labovitz, who represented Williams in the case, said Tuesday that his client “feels completely exonerated” by the appellate court decision and is looking forward to returning to his job as a police officer.

Deputy City Atty. Dave Hotchkiss said he believes there were errors that led to the decision and he will petition the appellate court for a review.