LOS ANGELES : Panel Backs Plan to Allow Civilians on LAPD Boards

A Los Angeles City Council panel endorsed an ordinance Friday that would allow civilians to serve on LAPD disciplinary boards.

Under the current setup, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Boards of Rights are composed of officers ranked captain and above. Adding civilian hearing examiners is intended to build public confidence in the disciplinary process and advance an LAPD reform agenda.

If the full council approves the measure, it would be another milestone in implementing Charter Amendment F, the sweeping reform initiative voters passed in 1992, a year after the police beating of Rodney G. King. Under the proposal, the Police Commission would make a civilian appointment when a three-member Board of Rights is convened for a misconduct case.

The commission will select a member from pools of hearing officers the panel and Civil Service Commission tap for other administrative matters. Many examiners have legal backgrounds, but the Police Commission also will provide the necessary training, Commissioner Deirdre Hill said.

Boards of Rights listen to sworn testimony, rule on the admissibility of testimony, determine the guilt or innocence of the accused, examine personnel records and recommend disciplinary actions to the chief.

Charter Amendment F proponents favored filling the panels with either retired judges or law school professors or ordinary citizens with the proper training.

But leaders of the two unions who represent rank-and-file officers and LAPD commanders questioned the wisdom of picking people with little knowledge of police affairs.