Police Barred From Work at Bingo Parlors : Identity Inc.: The action comes a week after an internal investigation of officers acting as security guards at the city’s largest such operation.

The Los Angeles Police Department has revoked permits allowing its officers to work as off-duty security officers in 75 bingo parlors as a result of allegations that the officers knew about financial improprieties at the city’s largest bingo operation.

Deputy Chief Mark A. Kroeker ordered officers who work at bingo parlors to turn in their permits Thursday, a week after the department began an Internal Affairs investigation into allegations against officers working at Identity Inc., a Woodland Hills charity.

“It has been brought to the attention of the department that, in many cases, this type of employment involves an inherent and blatant conflict of interest for Los Angeles police officers, and, therefore, should be prohibited,” Kroeker said in an internal memo circulated to division commanders.

The city’s Social Service Department, which regulates bingo operations, has long advocated barring police officers from working at the parlors. Officials said the appearance of impropriety can arise when the department investigates parlors where officers are working. Cmdr. William Booth said the order, which was issued at the direction of Chief Daryl Gates, will affect officers who work at any of the 75 licensed bingo halls in the city. The number of officers affected was not known, but bingo operators generally use from one to seven security guards. In addition to hiring off-duty police officers for about $15 an hour, many of the bingo operations use private security firms or retired police officers.

Kroeker, commanding officer of the Personnel and Training Bureau, wrote that officers may reapply for permits once they are revoked, but such requests “will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.”

Identity, which serves the disabled, operates the largest bingo game in the city, and has grossed about $29.4 million since February, 1982. About 80% of that money was returned to players in prize money.

The Social Service Department is seeking to revoke Identity’s bingo license because of charges that workers who helped run the games were paid from $100 to $300 a session. State law requires that workers for charitable bingo games be unpaid volunteers.

Two former Identity bingo workers who testified last month that they received the illegal payments also said they believed that off-duty police officers who worked as security guards were aware of the improprieties. The former workers also told The Times that wives of the officers played for free or were among the paid volunteers.

The allegations prompted the Internal Affairs investigation, which is continuing, police said. A parallel criminal investigation also is under way by the vice unit into accusations by former Identity workers that some bingo proceeds went unreported.

Edith Ryan, founder and president of Identity, has denied any wrongdoing by the charity. Monday, Ron Ponzi and Kenneth Hurwitz, two officers who work at Identity, testified at a hearing that they never saw or heard any workers talking about being paid.

City investigators later revealed that during an Aug. 19 search of Identity’s bingo hall on De Soto Avenue, detectives found a torn check for $65 written by Hurwitz’s wife in a trash can. Investigators said the fact that her check was thrown out could indicate she played bingo for free.

Ryan told The Times that she often allows guests to play for free because it is not illegal. City bingo regulators said the practice is not specifically outlawed but could be construed as unfair and a misuse of charitable funds.

In 1984, the Police Department tried to discourage officers from working at the Identity bingo games, but an investigation failed to find any wrongdoing and the officers were permitted to continue the work.