Former Detective Faces Charges That He Filed False Crime Reports : Courts: Investigations in seven cases stalled or were closed due to misleading reports, district attorney alleges.

A former Downey detective faces trial on misdemeanor charges that he filed false reports that closed or stalled investigations in seven cases, including at least one rape case.

An attorney representing the former detective, Larry Polin, entered a not guilty plea Monday in Los Angeles Municipal Court. Polin was accused of filing false investigation reports between January and July, 1991.

Judge Leland B. Harris scheduled a pretrial hearing for Feb. 11. If convicted on all seven counts, Polin could be sentenced to seven years in County Jail, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Gordon, who is prosecuting the case.

Polin is free on his own recognizance.

Gordon declined to discuss why Polin allegedly falsified the crime reports while working for the Downey Police Department. But the prosecutor said there “is no indication it was done in any attempt to show any person any type of favoritism or for financial gain.”

Polin, a 16-year veteran, was fired in October from his detective’s job, which included investigating sex crimes and cases of missing juveniles. In an interview, Polin denied any wrongdoing and said he is appealing the dismissal. The former detective said some of the seven cases had not been closed but were categorized as inactive awaiting further investigation.

“This has been an embarrassment to me and my family,” said Polin, 47, who is now director of security at Brooks College in Long Beach. “I’m not guilty.”

Polin first came under scrutiny in connection with a rape investigation, an official familiar with the case said. In his report, Polin said the victim did not want to press charges.

But another detective began investigating a second rape allegedly committed by a man who matched the description of the suspect in Polin’s case. That detective contacted the first victim, who said she never talked to Polin.

“Another detective noticed an incongruity in a report,” said Gordon, who declined to elaborate. “He reported it to his supervisor, and they opened an investigation.”

Both Gordon and Downey police declined to detail the nature of the other six cases that led to the criminal charges against Polin.

They also declined to say whether the seven cases had been, or would be, the subjects of new investigations.