officers - The Black Vault

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LOS ANGELES TH1ES
I · , oat;o MON , APRIL 1 , 1991
. . liEDITORIALS :;;;;~;;;;;:~~:::~o:
Prescription for LAPD:
CIVIL RIGHTS
-an Independent Panel
Classification:B 0-3 3 B
LOS ANGELES
M
ayor Tom Bradley was set to ahnounce
today the formation of a special citizens'
commission to launch a thorough
investigation into the structure and operation of
the Los Angeles Police Department, focusing
specifically on police brutality.
This is the latest effort by the mayor to
assuage the local and national outrage over the
videDtaped police beating of an unarmed motorist,
Rodney King. It's a necessary step, for only
a totally independent and comprehensive probe
of the King incident can restore public confidence·
in the LAPD. The notion of another
. special "commission" often draws understandable
sighs. But a properly conceived and executed
panel can and has worked.
THE MODEL: The panel is modeled on the
Knapp Commission, which 20 years ago probed
corruption in the New York Police Department
after the police hierarchy there proved considerably
less than willing to investigate allegations
of widespread wrongdoing. A similar,
totally independent commission that is not
reliant on the LAPD or the city for resources is
needed here to go beyond the scope of existing
investigations, including the narrowly charged
panel created by LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates.
The New York panel of five private citizens,
named after its chairman, Whitman Knapp,
uncovered evidence of broad, systemic corruption,
which it called an "extensive departmentwide
phenomenon, indulged in to some degree
by a sizable majori~y of those on the force." It
!recommended .broad reforms to deter corruption,
discourage cover-ups and encourage honest
officers and commanders who were willing
to blow the whistle on colleagues. The commission
also galvanized public opinion and
helped remove what had become a nearly
blanket suspicion of all police officers.
THE LESSONS: The investigative panel
encountered financial uncertainty when the
· New York City Council balked at renewing
funding. But the commission, which spent about
$750,000 two decades ago, was rescued with
federal law-enforcement funds.
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APR () 1991
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LOS ANGELES
To prevent similar proble-ms here, the mayor
and the commission are expected to raise more
than $1 million in private funds and services
from foundations, corporations and universities .
That should provide protection from political
. meddling and give the commission the inder:
_pendence necessary to do a tough and unbiased
job. Thus, the membership of the citizens
·commission is of paramount import,c1nce.
THE COMMISSIONERS: To lead the Los
Angeles panel, the city needs a person of
independence and probity. Today the mayor
will announce the appointment of Warren
Christopher, a world-respected local attorney
who was deputy secretary of state in the Carter
Administration, and a public servant of. the
highest caliber. He is an outstanding choice.
-"" All additional members need to bring comparable
high-calib~r talents to this commission.
Another pick, as a senior adviser to th~ panel,
is James Q. Wilson, a natioqally recognized
expert on urban policing at UCLA. He is an
excellent choice because he understands the
monumental challenges facing police officers in
modern cities.
Another excellent mayoral appointment as a
senior adviser is Jesse A. Brewer, who retired
recently as assistant .chief of the LAPD. He
brings expertise on the inner workings of the
department and a reputation for independence.
THE POWERS: The commission is expected
to work similarly to the Knapp model, which
·had a full- time, independent staff that included
former prosecutors with law-enforcement
backgrounds. To uncover patterns of graft and
cover-ups, the Knapp Commission held public
hearings and subpoenaed testimony from police
officers. That is wdrth doing in Los Angeles.
In fact, the citizens .. commission-if it's as
successful as most people of goodLf(f~}tf4 .... \ ,q~),;l~·