Council Orders Guidelines for Police Reform

In a broad statement of policy intended to guide reform of the Los Angeles Police Department, the City Council on Friday directed the Police Commission to develop plans for driving racism, sexism and bias from the department, curbing the use of force and ending a “code of silence” among officers.

The directive, which leaves the method and timing for implementation to the commission and Police Department management, is a companion to a police reform ballot measure approved by the City Council for placement on the June 2 ballot.

But the policy statement approved Friday by the City Council may have a more far-reaching effect than the ballot measure, which faces an uncertain future before voters. Although it attracted less debate and dissent than the controversial ballot measure, the council directive reaches into the day-to-day management of the Police Department and sets new standards for behavior and performance of its 8,300 officers.

Drawing up the statement was one of the last acts of the council’s ad hoc committee on police reforms. The panel was formed to respond to findings of the Christopher Commission, convened after the beating of motorist Rodney G. King by officers.

Earlier this week, the council approved placing on the ballot a measure that would limit a police chief to two five-year terms, grant the Police Commission authority to fire the chief and give the mayor power to appoint a new chief.

On Friday, Mayor Tom Bradley signed the council motion to place the measure on the ballot and endorsed the reforms. “My support for the police reforms is longstanding and well known,” said Bradley in a letter to the City Council.

The companion measures approved Friday establish a series of policies and priorities for the department, and seek to make reform a continuing process through education and training programs.

Councilman Marvin Braude, chairman of the ad hoc committee, called the motions a “reaffirmation” of city policy.

The council voted unanimously to send the package to the Police Commission, although Councilman Ernani Bernardi called the council report “a document full of whereases” lacking detailed recommendations.

But Councilwoman Joy Picus hailed the council report. “We’ve really accomplished a great deal,” said Picus. The council motions, she said, show “we’ve taken the Christopher Commission report to heart.”

The Christopher Commission recommended an array of reforms to remedy widespread management problems, racism, sexism and abuse of force in the Police Department. The Christopher Commission also recommended that Police Chief Daryl F. Gates step down and that civilian oversight of the department be increased.

The council motion directs the police chief and commission to take a series of actions “in order to restore public trust and confidence” and to provide a progress report to the council within 90 days.

In general terms, the council said it wants the department to “emphasize values that stress the department’s mission to protect and to serve,” to “emphasize awareness of cultural diversity” and “stress accountability . . . through discipline.”

More specifically, the council motions call for the department to regularly review its policies on racism and sexism, develop procedures to counteract the so-called code of silence surrounding excessive force incidents and to commission a public opinion poll to gauge perceptions of the department.

The motions also direct the department to hold command and supervisory officers strictly accountable for the abuse of force by their subordinates.

Police Department spokesman Lt. John Dunkin said he had not seen the council action and could not comment on how it will be received or implemented by the department. Police Commission President Stanley K. Sheinbaum could not be reached.

In response to the Christopher Commission recommendations, the Police Department recently began community-based policing programs in seven divisions. The program is designed to involve the community in crime fighting and to reduce tensions with police.

Braude said he will not disband the ad hoc committee until after the June balloting.