Police Abuse Suit Ends in Settlement
A federal judge on Monday approved the settlement of a lawsuit that accused police of harassing blacks for decades.
The settlement will create an independent agency to investigate brutality complaints, deaths in custody, shootings and other major uses of force.
The lawsuit was filed by black activists and civil libertarians in 2001, just weeks before the city erupted in three days of riots over the shooting death of a black man by a white officer.
U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott approved the settlement, reached April 3.
Although police union leaders deny that officers single out blacks for harassment, the Fraternal Order of Police voted to accept the pact. The city already has agreed to adopt tighter policies governing the use of force and to improve training and record-keeping.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
