Rampart Scandal Brings Legislation to Bar Tampering With Evidence

State legislation born out of the Rampart scandal that would make it a felony for a peace officer to plant or tamper with evidence easily cleared its first major hurdle this week.

The bill (AB 1993) by Assemblywoman Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) made it out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee on a bipartisan vote of 8-0 Tuesday and is headed to the Appropriations Committee.

“This sends a clear and unequivocal message that the planting of evidence by a peace officer is wrong,” Romero said in an interview.

Under current law, it is illegal to provide false written reports or false testimony in court, but no mention is made of falsifying physical evidence.

Proponents contend the legislation would close the latter loophole by making it a felony for a peace officer to alter, manufacture or conceal physical evidence with the intent to frame someone with a crime. Officers convicted under the measure could face two to five years in state prison.

Lending their support to the legislation were representatives of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Protective League.

“The rank and file officers are extremely embarrassed by the actions of [former LAPD Officer] Rafael Perez, who has exposed the city to $200 million in liability,” said Cliff Ruff, a director of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, in an interview after the vote. “We think this will send a clear message that will keep police officers from stepping over the line.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Wayne Bilowit added: “We’re hoping this will help restore public confidence in law enforcement in light of what has happened with the Los Angeles Police Department. Obviously, we hope this never happens in our house.”

Whether strengthening an existing law can restore public confidence in the LAPD and the district attorney’s office remains to be seen, however.

A recent Times poll found that the Rampart police corruption scandal has devastated public impressions of the LAPD and contributed to mixed feelings regarding Police Chief Bernard C. Parks’ job performance. A Times poll also found voter dissatisfaction with Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti’s handling of the scandal.

Additionally, the event that led to Romero’s legislation--the Rampart police corruption scandal--involves allegations of many more varieties of misconduct than are addressed in the measure.

Perez, a former anti-gang CRASH officer at the Rampart Division, has accused LAPD officers of unjustified shootings, beatings, framing innocent people and perjury, among other crimes. Judges have overturned more than 40 court cases amid allegations of police misconduct and more than two dozen LAPD officers have been relieved of duty, suspended without pay, fired or have quit as a result of the scandal.