Amendment step in right direction to reform LAPD

In a city where police officers have notorious reputations for
abuse, this amendment is a step in the right direction. This
overdue measure revises the police officer disciplinary process in
three ways. First, it would no longer allow police officers to be
represented by other officers in disciplinary hearings. Second, it
eliminates the “double jeopardy” rule for police
officers, which previously did not allow for an officer to be
charged a second time for the same offense even with the
introduction of new evidence. Lastly, it changes the time
limitation standards used when charging police officers of
misconduct. Instead of having to charge an officer within a year of
when the misconduct occurred, it allows for extensions if the
misconduct is also part of criminal or civil litigation.

This measure would serve as a positive step toward reforming Los
Angeles’ ailing police department. Having the city pay for
police officers to serve as each other’s defense
representatives during disciplinary hearings is counterproductive.
Not only does it provide a special privilege for those officers
accused of misconduct, but it also isolates the issue from the
community by keeping both the accused and the defense within the
department. It also helps foster a code of silence among officers,
since they are less likely to be open about a fellow
officer’s misbehavior. If officers can be proven innocent
with the discovery of new evidence, there should be no reason why
they can’t be proven guilty with new evidence as well. This
amendment allows for that.

Furthermore, there is no reason why there should be time limits
to charging an officer with misconduct. Regardless of how long it
takes, officers need to be held accountable for misbehavior. We
can’t expect to improve the LAPD if this type of
accountability is missing. A Yes vote on this amendment will help
make these changes.