LOS ANGELES : Review Sought of Police League Bid to Use Academy
The Los Angeles City Council has asked the Police Commission to review the Police Protective League’s request to use the Police Academy for a meeting to organize opposition to a police reform measure on the June ballot.
The review was sought by Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas. He complained that use of the academy by anti-Proposition F forces “gives the impression that the officialdom of the Police Department is anti-reform and that’s the worst message that can be sent out.”
The request was branded “hypocrisy” by Councilman Joel Wachs, who noted that council members routinely stage political events at City Hall.
League President William Violante, in a letter to Ridley-Thomas, accused the councilman of “seeking to control the content” of the league’s April 21 meeting.
Ben Bycel, executive director of the city Ethics Commission, said that there is no prohibition on any group using the academy, as long as all groups are treated equally.
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