Special Panel to Define Police Inspector General’s Role

In the continuing struggle over the authority of the Los Angeles Police Commission’s inspector general, commissioners Tuesday formed a special subcommittee to conclusively define the watchdog’s role and to establish work rules on how he will operate within the department.

After nearly two hours of public debate, the commission--with the aid of City Atty. James Hahn--reaffirmed that the inspector general can independently initiate a wide array of investigations at the LAPD, even if the department is conducting its own inquiries.

“The powers of the inspector general are very extensive,” Hahn said. “The inspector general can be given as much authority as the Police Commission sees fit.”

The commission, however, still is confused over the issue of confidentiality and how far the inspector general can go in protecting a person’s identity, particularly when the complainant is an officer.

LAPD officials say that officers have a duty to report misconduct to department supervisors and can be punished if they don’t.

Inspector General Jeffrey Eglash said officers and other complainants might be deterred from coming forward with information if his office can’t provide at least some assurances of confidentiality.

The commission previously has determined that state laws, certain criminal investigations, and city liability issues may prohibit the inspector general from granting total confidentiality.

The subcommittee is expected to determine the extent of the confidentiality that the inspector general can provide. That committee also is charged with establishing protocols for the inspector general in carrying out his duties.

Last week, Chief Bernard C. Parks attempted to establish protocols for his officers, detailing how they were to respond to requests for information from the inspector general. But the commission disapproved of the protocols’ language.

Commissioners said the chief’s protocols undermined some of the powers that they have granted the inspector general.

The authority of the inspector general has been a point of contention between the commission and LAPD officials for several years.

Although Parks says he supports the watchdog position, many commission and city government officials have said that he continually seeks to circumscribe the office.

One issue that the chief has expressed concern about is the inspector general’s access to all departmental information. Although the commission has demanded that the inspector general have complete and immediate access, Eglash indicated Tuesday that that is still not the case.