Gambling Probe Implicates 8 Inglewood Police : Law enforcement: The officers are suspended. An anonymous letter about a longtime bookmaking ring prompted department investigation.

Eight Inglewood police officers were suspended Wednesday after an internal investigation uncovered an illegal bookmaking operation that had gone on for several years, police and city officials said.

The officers, described only as veteran members of the 201-officer force, were relieved of duty, said Police Chief Oliver M. Thompson.

More officers could have participated in the sports-betting operation, as well as people outside the department involved in organized crime, Thompson said.

“We’re starting with the department, and then we will branch out,” he said at a news conference. “We’re talking about a small number here at the present time.”

Thompson declined to say whether officers made transactions while on duty, or to disclose the amount of money involved. It will be up to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office to decide whether charges will be filed, he said.

The police chief said he ordered an internal investigation Dec. 9, the day he got an anonymous, typewritten letter that tipped him to the bookmaking activities and to some of the officers allegedly involved. He informed the district attorney’s office of the letter several days later, he said.

So far, the department has obtained search warrants for locations in Inglewood and Simi Valley, including the homes of some of the officers, Thompson said. He would not elaborate.

“My initial reaction (to the letter) was shock,” Thompson said. “It hits you below the belt. But I’ve learned in this business that anything is possible.”

City officials expressed concern that the bookmaking ring might undermine the integrity of the department, which is struggling to get the upper hand on gangs and drug-related crime.

“It makes it very difficult for the police officers on the street,” said Councilman Garland Hardeman, himself a former Los Angeles police officer. “It becomes an integrity issue.”

None of those suspended were patrol officers, and there is no indication that any supervisory personnel were in on the bookmaking operation, Thompson said.

Hardeman said he plans to find out why the department’s ranking officers were unaware of the operation. “I’m concerned and disturbed that this could take place for this length of time,” he said.

Still, he and other city officials praised Thompson for ordering the investigation and making its results public.

“It is important to emphasize that these are a few bad apples,” said Councilman Curren Price Jr. “The Police Department is handling this right away, and I’m pleased with the way things have progressed.”