Activists Settle Anaheim Civil Rights Suit

Three Latino activists who were the subject of secret police dossiers in the late 1990s have settled their federal civil rights lawsuit with the city of Anaheim for $50,000.

The settlement, approved Tuesday by the Anaheim City Council, closes a two-year investigation into the Anaheim Police Department.

A state inquiry into the department in July found no evidence that police had spied on residents in the late 1990s, including two political activists who are now City Council members.

But the state attorney general’s report criticized former Police Chief Roger Baker for using “extremely poor judgment” in ordering background reports on Latino activists who had accused the police of misconduct.

The $50,000 will be split among Amin David, Francisco Ceja and the estate of the late Josie Montoya.