LAPD Board Questions Williams

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams was questioned behind closed doors Tuesday as the Police Commission moved into the conclusive phase of its investigation into allegations of misconduct by the chief.

Sources close to the investigation have indicated that the board has found no evidence of serious wrongdoing. It has, however, found records indicating that Williams and his wife have accepted free rooms from at least one Las Vegas casino hotel, sources said.

Whether the board will construe such conduct as inappropriate has not been determined.

Las Vegas casino hotels routinely provide free rooms to people who gamble sums large enough to qualify, as well as to celebrities if the casinos determine that their presence will be good for business.

Williams, who has denied any wrongdoing, was accompanied to the session by his attorney, Melanie Lomax. Also present were Lawrence G. Lawler, a retired special agent once in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, whom the board retained to investigate the allegations, and John H. Brinsley, a lawyer retained to advise the commissioners on their probe.

The inquiry was launched in response to a letter from retired LAPD Deputy Chief Stephen Downing, who urged that rumors of misconduct be investigated. The rumors, Downing said, concerned Williams or his family using police vehicles and a police cellular phone for private purposes, soliciting free tickets from an amusement park and accepting free rooms from Las Vegas casino hotels.

The Police Commission also approved a plan to buy computers for the vice unit that is charged with investigating the distribution of child pornography over computer bulletin boards.