Council Rescinds LAPD Detective’s Commendation : Police: Members say they did not realize that the retiree they honored, Jay S. Paul, played a pivotal role in a unit accused of spying.

The Los Angeles City Council rescinded an honorary commendation Wednesday for retiring Detective Jay S. Paul after the panel was reminded of his role in a Los Angeles Police Department spying scandal more than a decade ago.

The council nullified a unanimous vote taken Tuesday to present Paul with an honorary resolution, one of several routinely handed out to retiring city employees. After the vote, several members admitted that they did not realize whom they had honored.

In addition to being a highly decorated detective, Paul was a pivotal figure in the LAPD’s Public Disorder Intelligence Division, a unit accused of spying on elected officials who were hostile to the department.

“I was surprised he was still employed by the LAPD and was only now retiring,” said Councilwoman Rita Walters, who made the motion to reconsider Paul’s resolution.

The unit was disbanded by the Police Commission in 1983 after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit accusing it of spying on 131 law-abiding citizens and organizations. The suit was settled in January, 1984, when the city agreed to pay $1.8 million in damages.

But before the suit was settled, an internal LAPD investigation found that Paul had stored confidential files in the garage of his Long Beach home and had leaked sensitive information to a right-wing organization. Paul was suspended, but a police review panel found that he had acted with the blessing of his superiors and he was reinstated with back pay.

Nearly a decade later, Paul is scheduled to retire Jan. 22 after 27 years on the force. The resolution honoring him notes that he has more than 45 commendations for outstanding service.

In most cases, a professional calligrapher is instructed to create an ornate resolution that is signed by members of the City Council and presented to the retiring employee.

But after Walters reminded the council of Paul’s controversial past, the resolution was brought back for a second vote. This time the tally was 7 to 6 to adopt the resolution, one vote shy of a majority. Without a majority, the resolution, in effect, was killed.

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference when the spying scandal broke, voted to rescind Paul’s commendation, noting that the unit kept a file on his group.

Ridley-Thomas said he felt inclined to void the resolution because of the damage the spying scandal inflicted on the Police Department.

“It’s among the worst things that you can think law enforcement can do,” he said.

Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU, said she was so outraged that the council honored Paul on Tuesday that she wrote to Council President John Ferraro asking that the action be reconsidered.

Wednesday, she said she was happy that the retiring detective would get no commendation.

“I understand that these commendations are pretty insignificant,” she said. “But symbolism is important and it was important that Jay Paul not get a commendation.”

But Councilman Rudy Svorinich Jr., who proposed the honorary resolution at the request of Paul’s fellow officers, said he voted to honor Paul because, despite the controversy, the detective had served the city for 27 years and never had been found guilty of breaking any laws.

“I don’t think the council should have taken away the resolution and wiped away 27 years of service and dedication to the city,” Svorinich said.

Paul could not be reached for comment. His last day of work was Dec. 29. An LAPD spokesman declined to comment on the matter.