Problems Cited in Police Association

An audit whose findings will be released today reveals administrative problems in the association that handles health and retirement benefits for the Los Angeles Police Department, City Controller Laura Chick said Wednesday.

“There are some very clear findings that should draw concern from sworn LAPD officers,” said Chick, who ordered the audit of the Los Angeles Police Relief Assn. in August.

She did not provide details of the audit results, saying only that the problems involved the management of LAPRA’s database.

Also Wednesday, City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court that seeks to force LAPRA to release results of its earlier, internal audits.

“The new audit, as I understand it, has gaps and we believe the information requested would be able to fill those gaps,” said Delgadillo, who expects a hearing on the petition within a month. “These are public dollars, and without this information we believe we don’t know where all these dollars are going.”

Chick ordered the external audit after LAPRA’s former executive director filed a wrongful termination lawsuit that alleges gross mismanagement of the association’s $70-million health and retirement fund. The LAPD also launched an inquiry into the allegations by Ramona Voge. The investigation is ongoing, Voge said.

The president of LAPRA said the problems the audit found were directly related to the performance of Voge, who was fired Jan. 10. “I think it is favorable for LAPRA, other than some criticism that was the responsibility of the former employee,” said the president, LAPD Capt. Charles Beck. “The main thing is what the audit doesn’t say, such as there were no violations of law and no ethical violations. We are working to correct the problems.”

Voge’s lawyer, Dan Stormer, could not be reached for comment. His client is seeking $10 million in her suit, which alleges she was fired for questioning LAPRA’s financial practices. A LAPRA lawyer has denied that allegation and others in the suit.

Chick blasted LAPRA for not turning over the results of the internal audit. Her office requested them in August.

“If they have nothing to hide, they should open up their books,” Chick said.

The association offered to provide its audit findings, but only if the city kept them under seal because they contain personal information on LAPRA members, according to Beck.

Delgadillo said that condition would have amounted to “a confidentiality agreement and, because we are a public entity, we refused that.”

LAPRA administers benefits for about 9,500 LAPD officers and 7,500 retirees. It receives more than $50 million annually from the city for the benefits. With the money, LAPRA pays for members’ insurance plans.