LAPD outlines Board of Inquiry findings and criminal probe progress in public briefing; report due March 1

Los Angeles Police Department leaders told the City Council they will release a Board of Inquiry report on the Rampart matter on or before March 1 and described a continuing criminal investigation into misconduct that the department said began in April 1998.

Chief Parks (LAPD) and senior investigators briefed the council on the administrative Board of Inquiry and the criminal task force. Chief Parks said the board was "given a precept to look into all of the department issues and systems" and emphasized the board's administrative scope separate from the criminal probe.

Commander Dan Schatz and other task force leaders described the criminal investigation. Commander Schatz said investigators have identified 57 cases that former officer Rafael Perez specifically referenced as involving misconduct; the department said those cases could involve about 99 suspects and that investigators had interviewed more than 60 people so far. The criminal task force was reported to have had about 30 detectives assigned to it and, together with internal affairs work, roughly 50 officers…