Police Commission OKs Curbs on Retaliation

The Los Angeles Police Commission Tuesday adopted a tough policy to prevent department employees who file complaints against co-workers from becoming victims of retaliation.

All 12,000 LAPD employees are covered by the policy, but it is largely intended to protect female officers who complain about sexual harassment and gender discrimination.

The new policy, which was approved on a 5-0 vote, was praised by women’s advocacy groups, which have said that women who initiate complaints against their colleagues are often targets of either death threats, false complaints or warnings from co-workers that they will be left stranded without backup in emergency situations.

Interim Chief Bayan Lewis said he plans to issue a special order within days to implement the anti-retaliation guidelines.

Under the policy, commanding officers and supervisors have the responsibility to ensure that subordinates are trained on what constitutes retaliation and take immediate action to stop it. Officers found guilty of retaliation will face transfers, warnings, suspensions or termination.

The Police Commission Tuesday also discussed a report on the LAPD’s handling of domestic violence allegations against its own officers. The report concluded that the department’s investigations were often flawed and that the accused batterers on the force were rarely arrested or prosecuted and often faced only light in-house punishment.

The commissioners said they agreed with most of the 45 recommendations made by Inspector General Katherine Mader--the report’s author.