Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CR

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2000

(202) 353-8584

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


STATEMENT OF JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING FEDERAL

INVESTIGATION OF LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT


Bill Lann Lee, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, today issued the following statement regarding the Los Angeles Police Department:

  • "The Civil Rights Division has been conducting a civil investigation to determine whether there is a pattern or practice of misconduct by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) that deprives persons of federal rights. A federal statute, enacted by Congress in 1994, authorizes the Department of Justice to file a lawsuit to seek relief to eliminate a pattern or practice of such misconduct.

  • "We acknowledge the important efforts of the Police Commission and the LAPD to uncover the misconduct that occurred in the Rampart Area, and to identify management practices that allowed the misconduct to take place. We seek to enhance and strengthen those efforts, and turn promises for reform into actions for reform.

  • "Today, we notified officials of the City of Los Angeles, the Police Commission and the LAPD that the Civil Rights Division has been authorized to file a police misconduct lawsuit. This suit would allege that the LAPD is engaged in a pattern or practice of constitutional violations through excessive force, false arrests, unreasonable searches and seizures, and that management deficiencies have allowed this misconduct to occur. Although we have concluded that these types of misconduct occur on a regular basis, we believe that the majority of LAPD officers are ethical, hardworking and responsible.

  • "We informed City officials that the Department of Justice is willing to defer filing suit to allow the City the opportunity to work toward a voluntary settlement. It is the Civil Rights Division's ordinary practice to take the procedural step of authorizing the filing of a lawsuit before entering into substantive settlement negotiations. The City has accepted our offer to begin discussions toward a resolution of this issue, and has agreed to schedule a meeting next week.

  • "At the same time, criminal investigations by the Department of Justice to determine whether particular LAPD officers committed federal criminal offenses will continue. Those criminal investigations are being led by the United States Attorney's office in Los Angeles, and prosecution decisions regarding individual officers will be made based on the facts of each case."

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