Panel Urges Ban on Reprisals for Aiding LAPD Watchdog

Backing up the power and independence of the Police Commission’s inspector general, a City Council panel Monday recommended an ordinance banning LAPD retaliation against those who cooperate with the investigator.

The ordinance sent by the council’s Public Safety Committee to the full council would provide confidentiality for complaints made to the inspector general, as well as for the inspector’s investigations.

The proposals are in response to concerns that a police officer’s complaint against Chief Bernard C. Parks was handled by the Police Commission’s executive director, dismissed and sent to the chief.

Council members were concerned that the handling of the complaint might lead to retaliation against the officer who filed it.

“It was my intention to look for the most expedient and strongest and most valid ways of shoring up the position of inspector general,” said Councilwoman Laura Chick, the head of the committee.

The council members also voiced support for proposals by the two charter reform commissions, which would have the inspector general report to the Police Commission directly, rather than through the executive director. Chick also backed a charter change giving the inspector general power to initiate investigations without the Police Commission’s approval.

Police Commissioner T. Warren Jackson said the proposed ordinance is consistent with the intent of the Police Commission.

“We’re all on the same page, but the question is in the details,” said Jackson, who is working on guidelines to ensure confidentiality.

The inspector general position was created at the urging of the Christopher Commission to audit and oversee complaints and discipline involving police misconduct.

In a recent case that raised the issues of confidentiality and the possibility of retaliation, LAPD Sgt. Jace Kessler asked former Inspector General Katherine Mader to look at remarks by Parks calling the police union directors “tired old men.”

In Mader’s absence, Police Commission Executive Director Joe Gunn dismissed the complaint and notified Parks. Council members called the Police Commission in for a special closed session on the incident last month.

The ordinance recommended Monday states: “Employees should be free to contact the inspector general or respond to queries from the inspector general without having to fear that their employment might be adversely affected.”

Information relating to complaints received by the inspector general are to be kept confidential, and “no employee shall be harassed or suffer adverse employment action because he or she contacted or was contacted by the inspector general,” according to the proposal.

Chick also asked Deputy Chief Dave Gascon to clarify the chief’s recent written statements that the inspector general was set up to oversee civilian complaints.

“There seems to be still some confusion about the roles and the duties of the inspector general, certainly among the chief and Police Commission,” Chick said.

Council members Mike Feuer and Chick said their reading of the Christopher Commission report and charter allows internal complaints of police misconduct to be monitored by the inspector general.

“The [chief’s] letter is wrong,” Feuer said.

Gascon conceded that the broader interpretation is accurate, but said the focus of the Christopher Commission was on concerns by citizens that their complaints were not being properly handled.

He also said the chief is concerned that the inspector general not run parallel investigations to ones done by other agencies, such as criminal prosecutors.

Chick said the proposed ordinance shows that the council will protect the independence and power of the inspector general.

“It’s an opportunity for the council to underscore the importance of this position,” she said.