cannabisnews.com: FBI Joins Probe Into LAPD FBI Joins Probe Into LAPD Posted by FoM on February 24, 2000 at 13:24:31 PT By The Associated Press Source: New York Times At the request of the police chief, federal authorities announced that they will play a major role investigating the city's widening police corruption scandal. Six FBI agents will work with police and prosecutors, said James DeSarno Jr., the FBI's Los Angeles chief. U.S. Attorney Alejandro Mayorkas said his office also will step up its role. ``We hope to bring our expertise, resources and independence to bear on this problem,'' Mayorkas said Wednesday at a news conference. In Washington today, Attorney General Janet Reno said the Justice Department and FBI would assist local officials but remain independent enough of their investigation to make a separate judgment on whether a federal prosecution is needed. ``We are going to ... try to provide whatever assistance we can, and at the same time determine whether there is any basis for a federal investigation and make an independent judgment in that regard,'' Reno said. So far, 20 officers have been suspended and 40 criminal convictions have been reversed since a former anti-gang officer accused of stealing cocaine from an evidence locker began telling prosecutors that fellow officers framed innocent people, lied in court and even shot suspects. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office is looking into as many as 3,000 criminal convictions that may have been tainted by police misconduct. The announcement came amid calls for an independent investigation. The City Council on Tuesday delayed a decision on an independent investigation by asking a committee to further review it. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer announced Wednesday that he has ordered an expanded review of the police investigation. A team of state prosecutors and special agents will monitor and review the methods and findings of the police and district attorney investigations, he said in a statement. The LAPD has submitted three corruption cases to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, but so far none of the officers has been charged. District Attorney Gil Garcetti rejected the suggestion that his office has gone too slowly, saying he did not want to submit a weak case that might be thrown out of court. Federal officials said they'd been asked by police Chief Bernard Parks to play a bigger role in the investigation. Parks said the FBI ``carries a level of independence'' to get to the bottom of the scandal. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing 9,500 officers, said in a statement Wednesday that it supports ``a fair and objective review and investigation.'' ``It is unfair that 20 police officers have been relieved of duty and tried and convicted in the media without a single indictment,'' the union said. Meanwhile, Rampart anti-gang officers may have violated city policy by colluding with the Immigration and Naturalization Service to deport about 160 Hispanic immigrants who witnessed police abuse, the Los Angeles Times reported today. An INS agent, speaking on condition of anonymity, said police at the station repeatedly sought to deport immigrants who did not appear to be gang members. Los Angeles (AP)Published: February 24, 2000Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company Related Articles:Council Writes Blank Check for Rampart Probe http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4737.shtmlLAPD Chief Calls for Mass Dismissal -Tainted Caseshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4496.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on February 24, 2000 at 17:53:54 PT The pot investigating the kettle as to it's blackness.Having a bureau as discredited (for fumbling forensics and hiding evidence in the Waco Debacle) as the FBI has become to investigate the LAPD makes as much sense as putting Dracula in charge of the bloodbank. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 24, 2000 at 14:31:51 PT MAP's Shortcut To Rampart Items: Here are detailed news articles from MapInc. on the LAPD Scandal.MAP's Shortcut To Rampart Items:http://www.mapinc.org/rampart.htm [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: