HAHN FOR MAYOR 18553 Ventura Blvd. Tarzana, CA 91356
Hahn Seeks Charter Changes To Beef Up Police Reform Effort
NOVEMBER 14, 2000 LOS ANGELES TIMES
LAPD: The City Attorney Wants Full-Time Civilian Commissioners And A Tougher Discipline System.
-- Tina Daunt, Times Staff Writer
Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn is seeking a number of City Charter
amendments aimed at bolstering the Los Angeles Police Commission and
overhauling the way the LAPD handles officer discipline and grievances.
Hahn said he will send a letter today to the mayor and City Council asking
that they consider seeking voter approval of a number of charter amendments,
including one that would make the Police Commission presidency a full-time,
paid position.
"After spending at least six months on the consent decree, we realized that
we needed to take a hard look at the charter to see if it is standing in the
way of achieving the full police reform that we all want," said Hahn, who
served on the negotiating team that reached the settlement with the U.S.
Department of Justice on reforming the department. "The bottom line is we
need to strengthen civilian control . . . and we need to restore public
confidence. I think these things will help accomplish that."
Councilwoman Laura Chick, who led the council's committee on charter reform,
said she is willing to look at Hahn's proposals--and any others that come
about in the wake of the Police Commission's review of the Rampart police
scandal. That report is due out later this week.
Some of Hahn's recommendations include:
* Setting up a new disciplinary system that would give officers the
opportunity to have their grievances heard by a civilian panel. The current
system calls for two command officers and a civilian to decide on an
officer's discipline--subject to approval by the chief--at a Board of Rights
hearing. Police union officials have complained that the current system is
unfair because the command officers on the panel are beholden to Chief
Bernard C. Parks, whose disciplinary policies the union generally opposes.
* Giving more authority to the chief to fire officers. "Now, the chief can
terminate only if such an action is recommended by the Board of Rights," Hahn
said.
* Removing the statute of limitation in the charter that limits the length of
time the department has to take action against an officer accused of
misconduct.
* Establishing a full-time Police Commission president, who would have "the
time, energy and the dedicated focus to provide the necessary oversight to
avoid future corruption scandals."
* Transferring oversight of the department's recruiting and hiring efforts
from the city's Personnel Department to the Police Commission. "The
reorganization will facilitate accountability within the city," Hahn said.
"One organization will not be able to blame another for the failures
related to personnel decisions."
* Prohibiting sworn LAPD personnel from serving as staff members to the
Police Commission and its inspector general.
"Effective reform requires that the commission and the inspector general have
a strong staff to support strong oversight," Hahn said. "The city also must
avoid the potential conflicts which occur when the chief of police has the
power to affect the future careers of members of the commission and inspector
general staff," Hahn said.
Although Hahn's proposals--which are subject to council approval and mayoral
veto--are expected to open the debate on charter reform, his proposals are
not the first since the Rampart police scandal. Several months ago, Erwin
Chemerinsky--who helped craft the new City Charter two years ago--said he
believed revisions were necessary to bring about reforms in the LAPD.
"We knew in drafting the charter that it would be amended as circumstances
warranted," said Chemerinsky, a constitutional law professor at USC. "I
applaud Hahn for putting this on the table."
Although Chemerinsky said he agreed that the current Board of Rights should
be scrapped, he questioned whether the chief should be given the ability to
fire officers without a due process review. He also said he believes the
entire commission should serve as full-time employees--and not just the
president.
"Knowledge is power," Chemerinsky said. "If you are full-time and everyone
else is part-time, you will not be first among equals. You will be superior
to the others."
However, some officials said they believe Hahn's recommendations are a step
in the right direction.
Police Commission President Gerald L. Chaleff said:
"It became apparent When we were negotiating the consent decree that there
were a number of areas that should be addressed and changed in the City
Charter," Chaleff said. "The city attorney has raised some very good ideas
that should be discussed."
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