Judge Refuses to Block Chief’s Appointment

A judge Wednesday refused to block the appointment of South Gate’s new police chief, but ordered the city to halt, for now, schedule changes that police unions had challenged.

The unions contend that city leaders ordered the changes in retaliation for their support of a voter recall targeting them.

Although Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs said there was “strong evidence” of retaliation on certain issues, she decided against granting preliminary injunctions in several key areas.

Janavs said sufficient doubt existed over whether the unions would prevail at trial. Janavs did order the city to halt for now a new rule that requires all police officers, including detectives, to wear uniforms.