Department Responds to Report of Rampart Review Panel

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, November 17, 2000

"Department Responds to Report of Rampart Review Panel"

Los Angeles: On September 21, 2000, Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks convened a Board of Inquiry to conduct an independent review of the Rampart Corruption Scandal. On March 1, 2000, the Board of Inquiry issued its findings in a report.

On April 12, 2000, the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners announced the formation of the Rampart Independent Review Panel, tasked with reviewing the Los Angeles Police Department’s Board of Inquiry Report and conducting an examination of the Department in the wake of the Rampart Corruption Scandal. On November 16, 2000, the panel announced that it had submitted its 210-page report to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners.

The Los Angeles Police Department is appreciative of the efforts of the 190 plus members of the panel for the time donated toward this project. The Department is encouraged and is supportive of all efforts geared toward real reform of the Los Angeles Police Department. As expressed by the authors of a recent UCLA-USC Study, on the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), any blueprint for success within the LAPD must be based on change that is initiated from within the organization. To this end, the Department remains committed to making any and all necessary changes geared toward improving the efficacy of the Department and the quality of life of the people of the Los Angeles community.

In reviewing the Report of the Rampart Independent Review Panel, Chief Bernard Parks stated, "The Department is very supportive of the public debate on the issues articulated in the panel’s findings. This report will, obviously, require considerable debate and discussions between our elected officials, Board of Police Commissioners, community members and Department officials. It is our hope that these discussions occur before any rush to implementation."

While we engage in meaningful discussions surrounding issues articulated in the panel’s report, it is important that we as a Department continue to focus our efforts toward our number one priority/commitment to the people of this community; fighting crime and the fear and incidence of crime, along with ensuring the absence of public disorder.

The mission of the LAPD is:

To safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve, to reduce the incidence and fear of crime, and to enhance public safety while working with the diverse communities to improve their quality of life.

For further information regarding this release, please contact Media Relations Section at 213 485-3586.

This press release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank, Officer in Charge, Media Relations Section.

For Release 5:00 pm PST
November 17, 2000