LAPD failing on retaliation claims

REPORT: Officials say complaints need to be dealt with more quickly.

The Los Angeles Police Department fails to properly investigate claims of internal retaliation against officers, according to a report released Tuesday that led officials to acknowledge changes were needed to avoid costly lawsuits against the department.

The Internal Affairs Group often did not investigate claims by officers that they faced retaliation from superiors - such as being passed over for promotions - if they had filed complaints against the department or fellow officers, according to the Police Commission's Inspector General's Office.

"Retaliation and other workplace complaints are some of the most complex investigations confronting the department," inspector general Nicole Bershon wrote in the report. "However, we believe that, given the severity of retaliation allegations, and the fact that the incidents surrounding these complaints often result in litigation against the department, it is essential that these investigations are thorough and comprehensive."

LAPD also removed the accused employees from the investigation by framing the complaints against the department as a whole, making it difficult to determine if the employee had been the subject of complaints before, according to Bershon.

LAPD policy protects employees if they report or file lawsuits alleging misconduct such as sexual harassment, discrimination or unfair labor. The policy also prohibits retaliatory behavior against those employees such as refusing or

intentionally delaying help, ostracizing those participating in an investigation, or spreading rumors.

Officials promised a restructuring of IA's investigating unit, saying that a lieutenant and additional investigators would be added to handle complaints.

As LAPD struggles with budget and staffing shortages, one investigator now handles as many as 10 cases at a time, according to one official.

Calling for a "culture change," officials said the complaints need to be resolved at the outset to clamp down on a high number of lawsuits against LAPD by its employees alleging retaliation and other workplace misconduct issues.

"These things fester and create huge, huge problems for something that could have been handled very soon," said Cmdr. Rick Webb, who heads the Internal Affairs Group. "We have a lot of room for improvement."

The department is expected to report back to the Police Commission on changes it has made in several weeks.

"We recognize the need," said Chief Charlie Beck. "It brings forth a lot of things that I think needed to be changed for a while."

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18082683?source=rss

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