Officer Who Spoke Ill of Perez Is Censured

The commander of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division was reprimanded Tuesday for questioning the credibility of disgraced former Officer Rafael Perez during a misconduct hearing.

Capt. Joe Curreri received an official reprimand but no suspension for making what was found to be an inappropriate comment during a June 2000 Board of Rights hearing in which Perez was a witness.

At that hearing about another officer’s alleged misconduct, Curreri, who was acting as a judge, said about Perez: “I would not believe him if he said all this happened or none of it happened.” In that hearing, the accused officer was found not guilty despite testimony against him from Perez.

Perez was a central figure in the Rampart police corruption scandal, and he provided information against fellow officers in return for a lighter sentence for stealing drugs from evidence lockers.

The Board of Rights hearing Tuesday, which included two LAPD captains and a civilian, found that Curreri’s comments were “prejudicial.”

“This is a good day for the public and the LAPD,” Deputy City Atty. Ted Smith said. “This is not about Curreri and his character. But this ensures Board of Rights hearings from now on will be fair and impartial.”

A spokesman for the LAPD was also pleased with the decision.

“We have to send a message that the Board of Rights process applies to every employee regardless of rank,” LAPD spokesman Lt. Horace Frank said. “It must be fair and objective.”

The hearing Tuesday was packed with supporters for Curreri who were deeply disappointed with the verdict.

“I just can’t believe what Joe said amounted to misconduct,” said LAPD Capt. Dick Bonneau of the Southeast Division.

Police Chief Bernard C. Parks signed the complaint against Curreri in 2000. Curreri--who had an unblemished record in 27 years with the LAPD--appealed, and the decision on his suspension was delayed until his public hearing.

Several supporters said Curreri’s statements about Perez expressed what many among the department brass had already said.

“Curreri was questioning the credibility of Perez’s testimony without corroboration, something everyone from the chief of police to the district attorney’s office has done,” LAPD Capt. Jim Tatreau said.

Parks himself has had difficulty vouching for Perez as a witness. In 2000, after three Rampart officers’ criminal convictions were overturned by a judge, the chief suggested that testimony by Perez required corroboration.

“We’ve said all along that Perez has to be corroborated by physical evidence,” Parks said at the time.

LAPD Lt. Don Mulrenin, who represented Curreri before the panel, was unhappy with the decision.

“It’s unfortunate that someone makes a comment on a Board of Rights and he gets punished for it,” Mulrenin said.