City Pays $205,000 in Police Killing

Santa Ana has paid $205,000 to the family of a suspected car thief shot and killed by police in a shooting that sparked outrage in the Latino community.

The shooting death of Jose Campos on Sept. 7, 1998, led to protests in the Latino community and demands that Officer James F. Tavenner be fired. Campos’ family had filed a $10-million wrongful death lawsuit against Tavenner and the city.

On Thursday, Lt. George Saddeh, head of police internal affairs, said the settlement was paid in January.

Police said Tavenner, fearing for his safety, fired a .45-caliber round through an open car window that hit Campos in the head. Campos and his girlfriend were sitting inside a parked car reported stolen when they were approached by Tavenner, who was on foot.

According to a police version of the shooting, Campos began driving away, and Tavenner was brushed by the left side of the car. Police said Tavenner believed Campos was trying to run him over and fired. The officer was cleared in investigations by the district attorney and a grand jury.

Lucia Margarita Torres, Campos’ girlfriend, disputed Tavenner’s version of the shooting.

Saddeh said the incident was also investigated by a police shooting review board and by a panel conducting “an administrative process.”

However, he declined to discuss the results of the two probes, citing privacy laws. “I can only tell you there was an extensive investigation done, and as a result of the investigation we took appropriate action.”

Saddeh also refused to say what, if any, action was taken against Tavenner. The officer is still with the department but no longer on patrol, Saddeh said. Instead, Tavenner is on “an investigative assignment,” Saddeh said.

Tavenner had been named in two previous allegations of using excessive force on Latino suspects. He was cleared in one, in which the suspect died after being hogtied by officers. In the other case, Santa Ana paid $200,000 in 1993 to Cresencio Ruiz, who said he was beaten by Tavenner after a hit-and-run accident.

Ruiz was a passenger in a car driven by a drunken friend. The friend’s car hit Tavenner’s private vehicle while Tavenner was off duty. According to court and hospital records, Ruiz suffered a ruptured spleen and lacerated intestine in the beating and needed a half-gallon of blood during surgery. Ruiz was never charged.

Police spokesman Sgt. Raul Luna said Tavenner was prohibited from commenting by departmental regulations.