New discipline policy at LAPD results in some officers avoiding punishment, page 1

articles.latimes.com...

A growing number of Los Angeles police officers who have used excessive force, driven while intoxicated, falsely imprisoned people or committed other serious misconduct are being let off without punishment as part of a new, controversial approach to discipline at the LAPD.

Well, what will be the next severe penalty on the 2nd offense?

Instead of handing down suspensions without pay, as was the norm for such offenses, police officials increasingly are putting officers on notice that another gaffe of the same sort will bring a severe penalty and possible termination.

Possible termination.....I guess that means a 50% chance of being fired?

"The way it's being handled minimizes the seriousness of these situations," Commissioner Alan Skobin told Deputy Chief Mark Perez, who oversees discipline. "If an officer commits a criminal act — the two good examples are DUIs and domestic violence — there is some real angst … when, basically, in the department the worst thing that happens is that they're being told, 'The next time you do that it's going to be serious.' "

So they're basically getting a get out of jail free card....one time use....not saying they already have those cards.

Perez, who runs the department's Professional Standards Bureau, is the architect of the LAPD's new take on how to deal with troublesome officers. Under Chief Charlie Beck and his predecessor, William Bratton, the 29-year LAPD veteran began working to design a system that, as he often says, emphasizes "strategy over penalty."

Strategy over penalty?

Similar to the way prison sentences are used to deter and punish criminals, this strategy assumes that the threat of punishment will keep officers from stepping out of line.

I have an idea....How about the officers get charged the same way the average citizen does, instead of implementing new policies and changing rules? Wouldnt that be more effective and time saving?

reply to post by buni11687

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Dear buni11687,

What isn't mentioned is that at a time when Los Angeles is laying off city workers and saying that they can't pay for the civilian pensions or to keep libraries open, they just gave the LAPD a pay raise and took cuts from everyone else. Maybe this is why the politicians aren't in jail, they pay off the cops and do it legally.

By the way, my father was in both the LAPD and the County Sheriffs and he was as honest and decent a man as I have ever known. My father also did not believe that police should be in unions and he didn't think they should be allowed to strike. The Rampart Scandal has shown what has happened to the LAPD. For a time they were the best police force in the United States and during the 80s they changed. The people who will dislike this rule the absolute most and the honest and hardworking members of the LAPD, the ones who want to see the department made better and see the bad cops leave. And no, I am not a police officer; but, I know a lot of people in law enforcement.

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