LAPD Monitor Key in Officer’s Transfer

An LAPD vice sergeant with a history of sexual harassment and discrimination complaints was reassigned after intervention by the Los Angeles Police Commission’s inspector general, illustrating the growing influence of the newly hired civilian monitor.

While the department was already investigating complaints against Sgt. Bill Florez, it was only after Inspector General Katherine Mader brought the issue to Chief Willie Williams--in front of his bosses, the police commission--that Florez was temporarily transferred from his longtime post at the Devonshire station, Police Department sources said.

Florez has since taken a stress-related leave and could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Mader, a former prosecutor, was hired five months ago to oversee the disciplining of officers in the Los Angeles Police Department. Last month, she briefed the Police Commission in closed meetings about complaints against Florez, who had worked at least 15 years at the Devonshire station, sources said.

The LAPD’s handling of the complaints against Florez highlights the complexity of sexual harassment and discrimination investigations inside the department, say commission members who hired Mader to keep closer watch over the disciplining of wayward officers. It also raises questions about whether officers should automatically be transferred when sensitive allegations are made against them, and whether the department takes too long investigating these cases.

Because the half-dozen or so women officers who had complained about Florez no longer work at the Devonshire station, Internal Affairs investigators believed there was no need to hurry Florez’s transfer, a source said.

But Mader said she was concerned that women officers who may have been the target of harassment were fleeing Devonshire while Florez, the subject of the allegations, remained. She said she hopes a new discrimination unit being created by the LAPD will handle these cases in the future.

The Florez investigation, she said, is typical of the work Police Commission members expect of her. They created the job after the Christopher Commission in 1991 recommended the hiring of a civilian to monitor discipline within the department.

“Something was brought to our attention that we thought was important and we immediately acted on it,” Mader said of the case. “We’ll continue to vigorously pursue” these investigations, she said.

Members of the Police Commission applauded Mader’s involvement in the Devonshire case.

“It sends a signal that we are absolutely serious about ferreting out any discrimination or harassment of employees based on gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity,” said Commissioner Art Mattox. “It is absolutely at the top of our agenda. We want a safe work environment for everybody.”

Female officers told Internal Affairs investigators that Florez made derogatory comments and derided their abilities, making work at the station and in the field difficult, sources said. The investigation of Florez, who was temporarily transferred to the Foothill Division, is continuing.

Liz Hatter, an LAPD officer now on a stress leave, said she first worked for Florez 12 years ago at the Devonshire station. She said it was clear then that he was “old school” or an old-fashioned policeman who was unable to accept female officers in the department.

Hatter said the inspector general became involved after another woman officer from Devonshire contacted Hatter and told her that Florez threatened to deny the woman backup assistance from other officers if she ever called for help.

At that point, Hatter said, she contacted a deputy chief and demanded that Florez be moved.

During the course of the internal investigation, several other women--now working at other LAPD stations--said they, too, were victims of harassment by Florez.

“It was a string of women,” Hatter said. “This is so obvious it slaps you in the face. The problem is him--not us.”

Florez, 48, has worked for the department for nearly 25 years, said Capt. Vance Proctor, who oversees the Devonshire station.

While Proctor would not discuss the case, citing rules of confidentiality, he said Florez supervised the vice unit for the past 20 months.

Deputy Chief Martin Pomeroy, who commands the five Valley police stations, also declined to comment on the matter. But he said it illustrates how the inspector general “obviously thought it was important and took it to the commission.”

Historically, commission members were not told of investigations unless officers of the Internal Affairs Division found wrongdoing and recommended disciplinary action.

But Mader said the allegations were severe enough to warrant immediate attention by the commission, who asked Williams for answers.

At a subsequent meeting, Williams told the commission Florez had been reassigned, sources said. In fact, he had not.

The commission then ordered Williams to transfer Florez. The transfer became effective days later, said sources who attended the closed meetings.

Said one source: “If [Mader] hadn’t done this, he’d still be there and the women would be streaming out of there.”

Times staff writer Jim Newton contributed to this story.