Los Angeles City Council approves resources for police commission review of Rampart Board of Inquiry

The Los Angeles City Council voted to approve resources and staff support for the Police Commission and the Office of the Inspector General to conduct an expanded, city-level review of the Rampart Board of Inquiry report and related matters.

Council members said the commission’s independent review — and the additional staff it needs — is only the start of a broader effort to examine hiring, supervision and internal investigations in the Los Angeles Police Department. The council opened a public discussion of the Board of Inquiry report and heard presentations from Police Department commanders and personnel staff before approving the committee report authorizing the resources.

The Police Commission’s executive staff and the inspector general told the council they plan a comprehensive, multi-part review covering officer recruitment and screening, use-of-force and officer-involved-shooting protocols, disciplinary processes, informant-handling and search-warrant procedures, and anti-corruption inspections. “We intend to do a complete, thorough review of every issue raised by the Board of Inquiry report and go far beyond that,” the commission’s representative said during the presentation.

Why it matters: Council members described the Board of Inquiry report as the beginning rather than the end of reform. Several council members urged that the commission and inspector general be given adequate, ongoing staffing to sustain a long-term review and to produce implementable recommendations, some of which could require charter changes, ordinances or departmental policy changes.

What the council approved: The council approved the committee recommendation providing resources for the Police Commission and the Inspector General to conduct the independent review. The roll call on that committee item recorded 14 ayes.

Key concerns raised during debate included: - Independence vs. coordination: Council members and some commissioners urged care to avoid undermining criminal investigations conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the district attorney, while still enabling a robust administrative and systems review. Inspector General staff said they would “do as little as possible that might interfere with the criminal investigation.” - Personnel and hiring standards: Commander Betty Kalipas (personnel work group) and Police Department speakers described complex interactions between the department, the personnel department and the Civil Service Commission in background checks and hiring. Council members and personnel officials agreed the current background standards and the “non‑select” process should be reviewed and clarified for large academy classes. - Supervision and record-keeping: The Board of Inquiry report identified failures of supervision and inconsistent documentation practices; council members pressed the department to tighten watch-commander responsibilities, discipline for supervisors who “rubber-stamp” reports, and personnel-tracking systems so prior complaints or restrictions follow officers between assignments.

Quotes from the hearing (verbatim): - Councilman Feuer: “This request for financial resources begins and doesn't end a series of requests.” - Commander Betty Kalipas (personnel work group): “Those are the three things that I am aware of that were raised by the personnel department…they need to be reduced.” - Chief representative (Board summary): “The Board of Inquiry Report is an in-depth management audit. It does not contain any information regarding the criminal activity because those criminal cases are ongoing.”

Next steps: Council members asked the Police Commission, the Inspector General and the police department to proceed quickly but carefully, coordinating with the District Attorney and federal investigators when necessary. Several council members requested that further briefings be offered in committee and that the council schedule follow-up hearings by topic (for example: hiring and backgrounds; use-of-force; internal affairs and discipline).

Ending: The council approved the committee report and the resources to support the commission’s work. Members said the commission’s review should inform both immediate departmental fixes and longer-term policy changes; the council signaled willingness to consider additional budget requests later in the fiscal year if needed.