Torres Gets Subpoena Power for Inquiry on Deputies : Law enforcement: Senator says Block refused to give report on citizen complaints to his panel.

The Senate Rules Committee has given a state senator the authority to subpoena documents that show the number and nature of citizen complaints against Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, it was disclosed Thursday.

Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) said he was given the subpoena power after Sheriff Sherman Block had refused to provide the information to Torres’ Senate subcommittee on peace officer conduct, which has been examining several controversial shootings by Los Angeles deputies and the conduct of officers in other cities.

The subcommittee, which Torres chairs, has held six public hearings over the last four months, including three in Los Angeles.

The senator said the complaint data he is seeking was gathered by the Sheriff’s Department in response to a civil suit filed last year. Torres said that although the information is presently sealed by the court, he had asked the department to release the data.

“I believe that this documentation directly contradicts public statements by the Los Angeles County sheriff as to the number and severity of complaints against the agency,” said Torres in a statement.

In response, a sheriff’s spokesperson said the department had yet to receive the subpoena.

“If we receive a subpoena we will evaluate it and release whatever information that we can consistent with the law,” said Capt. Douglas McClure.

Torres said the subpoena was OKd by the committee on Tuesday.

Legislative committees seldom exercise subpoena power to compel the testimony of witnesses or gain access to documents, but the Rules Committee gave Torres similar power last September to subpoena Sheriff’s Department records of a controversial shooting at the Ramona Gardens housing project.

In that case, Torres received approval to obtain records pertaining to the shooting of Arturo Jiminez, who was slain by a deputy on Aug. 3. Sheriff’s Department officials had told Torres they could not voluntarily give the senator documents relating to the fatal shooting while the district attorney was still investigating the incident.

Last month, a county Grand Jury decided not to indict the deputy involved in the Aug. 3 shooting.