Parks on LAPD and Miranda

I must take exception with your April 6 editorial, especially as it implies that the Los Angeles Police Department specifically uses training which encourages its officers to abridge the constitutional rights of arrestees following their assertion of those rights as a result of “Miranda” warnings. No such training exists nor is rendered at any level of the department.

Curricula from academy, detective and in-service schools contain no references to the encouragement of continued questioning of arrestees following their invocation of Miranda rights. All officers are bound by the constraints of basic constitutional law and statutory decisions in matters of criminal procedure. Established departmental procedures governing interrogations contain strict adherence to the provisions of the Miranda decision which, if purposely not complied with, place the concerned officer in jeopardy of disciplinary action being taken against him or her. Virtually all investigative personnel on the department are cognizant of the fact that statements obtained in violation of Miranda will not be admissible in court and will result in the automatic dismissal of charges against the defendant if, by some remote chance, the city or district attorney files the case in the first place.

The Miranda provisions are contained in the general body of law governing police practices. We will continue to abide by those mandates.

CHIEF BERNARD C. PARKS

LAPD