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Los Angeles City Council votes to fund Police Commission review of Rampart inquiry
Summary
The City Council approved immediate findings and directed resources to the Los Angeles Police Commission and inspector general so the commission can review the Board of Inquiry report into the Rampart matter; vote on procedural findings was unanimous and the subsequent motion passed 15-0.
The Los Angeles City Council on Feb. 19 voted to provide immediate staffing resources to the Los Angeles Police Commission and the city inspector general so the commission can conduct an independent review of the Board of Inquiry report into the Rampart investigation.
Council members voted 15-0 to adopt the procedural findings that the need to act arose after the posting of the agenda and to take the matter up at the meeting. After discussion, the council then approved the motion directing the mayor’s office, the City Administrative Officer (CAO) and the City Clerk’s Office (CLA) to work with the commission to assemble the staff — including attorneys, investigators and analysts — the commission deems necessary to carry out a thorough review.
The vote followed lengthy remarks from council members, the mayor, Police Commission representatives and Police Chief Bernard Parks. Council Member Misakowski said the commission and inspector general require additional resources to carry out the review promised under Proposition F and the Christopher Commission reforms enacted after earlier policing controversies. Mayor Ferrer and Chief Parks both voiced support for giving the commission resources to ensure a complete civilian review while preserving the integrity of ongoing criminal investigations.
Council members repeatedly stressed two limits: (1) protections for ongoing criminal cases and witnesses must be preserved, and (2) the commission’s review should be conducted independently and be capable of recommending structural changes if needed. Council members asked the commission to report back quickly with a scope and staffing estimate; Police Commission leadership said it would report to the council with staffing recommendations by Feb. 22.
Several council members urged caution about public disclosures that could jeopardize prosecutions or the safety of confidential informants. Chief Parks said the department has placed primary investigative teams off-site, uses secure facilities and has taken steps to limit public disclosures that could harm ongoing criminal proceedings. Council members asked the commission and the council to balance transparency and confidentiality as the review proceeds.
The council also recorded a separate procedural roll call earlier in the meeting, voting 15-0 on the formal findings necessary to take the special item up immediately. Following the discussion and the commission’s commitments, the substantive motion to fund and staff the commission’s review passed on the council floor by the recorded unanimous tally of 15 ayes.
Council members who spoke included Council Member Misakowski, Council Member Feuer, Council Member Chick, Council Member Bernsen, Council Member Galanter, Council Member Holden, Council Member Pacheco, Council Member Hernandez and others. The Police Commission president and Police Chief Parks addressed the council, and Mayor Ferrer publicly supported the motion.
