Proposal to Set Hiring Goals at LAPD Delayed

Unable to rally enough votes either to approve or kill a proposed consent decree that would set aggressive hiring goals for women and minorities at the Los Angeles Police Department and strip the department of power to investigate complaints regarding discrimination, the City Council on Wednesday postponed discussion of the matter until Friday.

The council remains deeply divided over the proposal, which would partly settle a long-running class-action lawsuit alleging widespread sexual harassment and race and sex discrimination on the force.

Seven of the 15 members support the decree and are eager to vote on it before Tuesday’s election in case Proposition 209, the state initiative that would ban affirmative action programs, passes and could be used to block the city from entering into such a settlement. Four members oppose the proposal and back a suggestion by Mayor Richard Riordan that it be revamped over the next month before coming to a vote. Four others remain undecided. It takes eight votes to decide the issue.