LAPD Sex Harassment Panel Backed : Law enforcement: City Council approves civilian unit to review complaints against police by other officers.

Saying that police investigators have failed to root out wrongdoing in their own ranks, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday called for formation of a civilian unit to review sexual harassment and discrimination complaints within the Police Department.

The action comes after several weeks of hearings and reports by female officers that they felt they had nowhere to turn for help when they were taunted or physically accosted by male officers.

“This will send a message . . . that this is not acceptable behavior and it will be dealt with swiftly and expeditiously,” said Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, who proposed the unit. “If women don’t have anything to complain about, then they will stay on the job longer and be better recruiters of others coming on the force.”

Abby J. Leibman of the California Women’s Law Center hailed the unanimous council vote as a “sign that this is an issue that is being taken seriously . . . to eradicate sexual harassment within the Police Department and the community as a whole.”

Goldberg and others have said the city is being hampered in recruiting and retaining women for the Police Department because of sexual harassment.

The council’s recommendation goes to the Police Commission, which must give final approval to the civilian review unit. The commission is independent from the council, but commission members have said they would support an independent review panel.

The unit was initially proposed to handle sexual harassment complaints, but it was modified to also encompass complaints of discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation and other factors.

The unit would break with tradition by reporting directly to the civilian Police Commission, rather than to Police Chief Willie L. Williams. Williams had asked remain in charge of the investigations and discipline. He did not comment on Wednesday.

To assuage concerns that members of the new organization will not understand the policy and culture of the department, the council agreed that at least one police officer would be on the panel.

The Police Protective League had proposed that a unit outside the department investigate sexual harassment claims, Goldberg said.