Cities Grapple With Police Patrols, Complaints : Civil rights: Council agrees to consider a citizens review panel but rejects a proposal to cancel the city’s contract with the Sheriff’s Department.

City officials agreed to study the establishment of a panel of residents to monitor complaints made against sheriff’s deputies from the Lynwood station, once criticized by a federal judge for routinely violating the civil rights of blacks and Latinos.

The City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to study creation of a citizens panel to review harassment and brutality complaints about the sheriff’s station.

However, the City Council gave the Sheriff’s Department a vote of confidence and threw out a staff recommendation to look at alternatives. The council said the Sheriff’s Department does the best job for the money. The city pays $4.8 million a year to have a miniumum of five patrol cars protect five square miles and 62,000 people.

“I support the sheriffs 100%,” Mayor Louis J. Heine said. “I would not agree to the cancellation of the contract with the sheriff, not in any way.”

However, the council said an independent review board is needed to check out complaints.

“I don’t see this as a move against the sheriffs,” Councilman Paul Richards said. “I see this as a move for the community. . . . Our citizens will believe an independent entity. They’ll know the city is taking it on themselves to see about their complaints.”

Councilman Armando Rea, who is a sheriff’s deputy assigned to the Lakewood station, blasted his colleagues and City Manager Michael Heriot for supporting an independent review board, pointing out that the department already has a review process.

Rea said only 12 formal complaints were registered against Lynwood station deputies in 1991 and two so far this year, hardly enough to warrant the use of taxpayer’s money to create an independant board. No other contract city has such a panel, he said.

“Starting this committee is overkill; it’s unjustified,” Rea shouted to the applause of some audience members. “It would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Rea was repeatedly interrupted by Richards, who questioned his objectivity.

“You’re part of the department. I don’t see how you can be unbiased,” Richards said.

Heriot angrily defended the need for a review board, saying the city needs accountability from the Sheriff’s Department.

“You complain to me each and every council meeting that you receive numerous complaints,” he told Heine. “They (sheriff’s deputies) do what they want to do. We get no respect. If you want to fool yourselves, I’m here to tell you there’s no respect.”

Councilwoman Evelyn Wells pointed out that many of the complaints are never followed through.

“I receive hundreds of complaints that never get to the formal complaint process,” she said. “Police protection is not working.”

Before the meeting, a group of about 40 Lynwood residents led by former Mayor Robert Henning and the Rev. Charles Floyd, staged a candlelight march demanding, among other things, a citizens review panel.

The group carried a poster that stated, “A Council Gone Mad,” and sang “We shall Overcome.”

“The council has been remiss in allowing the Sheriff’s Department to run roughshod over our residents,” Floyd said.

Last fall, a federal judge ruled that many Lynwood station deputies routinely violate the civil rights of blacks and Latinos with “terrorist-type actions.” U.S. District Judge Terry J. Hatter also found that a “neo-Nazi, white supremacist gang” existed at the station.

In December, the Pasadena City Council caused a furor when it said it did not want “neo-Nazi” deputies from the Lynwood station patrolling the Rose Parade. But city officials later apologized.

Lynwood city officials said problems have been addressed successfully by Lynwood Capt. Bert Cueva, who took command of the station in June, 1989.

Many residents at Tuesday night’s meeting spoke in support of the department.

“The sheriffs are doing an excellent job,” said Al Walker, a Lynwood resident since 1975. “Without them, the city would be devastated.”

Floyd and other community activists said they do not want the city to end its contract with the Sheriff’s Department, just make the department more responsive to the community.

Despite their desire for a review board, council members said they were pleased with the overall performance of the department.

Council members pointed out that the city could not afford to start up its own police department and that contracting with a neighboring city would almost certainly cost more than the $4.8 million a year Lynwood now pays the Sheriff’s Department.

In addition to the five patrol cars, the city also pays for 29 detectives responsible for crime, gang and narcotics investigations. The department also has two officers assigned full time to Lynwood high schools.

City officials said they expect to report to the council on the feasiblity of a review board sometime next month.

Tina Griego is a Times staff writer. Suzan Schill is a community correspondent.