The LAPD has temporarily disbanded a South L.A. anti-gang unit whose members are accused of turning off their body-worn cameras during traffic stops.<\/p>\n
Police officials announced the move Tuesday as the department\u2019s civilian watchdog requested a review of behavior by all gang enforcement units citywide.<\/p>\n
Members of the 77th Street Division\u2019s specialized gang detail came under internal investigation in recent months for failing to activate their body-worn cameras and pulling people over without documenting the interactions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe take this very very seriously, which is why the entire unit is stood down,\u201d Assistant Chief Scott Harrelson told the Police Commission at its weekly meeting Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Several commissioners said they were troubled by the continued instances of officers flouting the department\u2019s rules on the use of body cameras, and asked for a report back about whether the problem is more widespread.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you know, we spent millions of dollars every year on body-worn cameras, but their effectiveness depends on\u201d officers adhering to policies, Commissioner Jeff Skobin said.<\/p>\n
Commission President Rasha Gerges Shields said that while she was pleased that the department had uncovered and was investigating the alleged misconduct, she worried about underlying causes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a greater concern that there is a culture problem [with] some leadership that this is allowing this to happen,\u201d she said, while adding that she wants to ensure that \u201cthis is not just a tip of the iceberg, but also to make sure that other divisions are not having similar problems.\u201d <\/p>\n
Some of the specialized details are \u201cdoing good work,\u201d Gerges Shields said, but she asked LAPD officials to provide a \u201cbetter analysis and understanding the purpose on these gang units and their continued utility to the department and also a better understanding in regards to discipline\u201d for officers accused of conducting improper searches.<\/p>\n
Department officials said that about a dozen gang officers have been ordered to have no contact with the public while on duty and several others have been reassigned to other shifts while the department decides whether anyone will be suspended.<\/p>\n
Police sources who requested anonymity in order to discuss the ongoing investigation said that the officers under scrutiny were newer members of the unit, and blamed the apparent misconduct on a hyper-competitive culture that prioritizes seizing illegal guns.<\/p>\n
The situation echoes another scandal involving so-called \u201cghost stops<\/a>\u201d by a gang unit in the San Fernando Valley<\/a> in recent years.<\/p>\n The alleged misconduct in that case came to light<\/a> in late 2022 after a motorist said police had pulled him over and searched his vehicle without consent or probable cause. The motorist filed a complaint, and the ensuing internal investigation turned up other cases of gang officers improperly switching off their cameras or otherwise failing to document stops.<\/p>\n Several officers involved in the Valley stops were fired or resigned<\/a> before the department could take action. Others, including a gang sergeant, face pending disciplinary hearings.<\/p>\n The department has considered stepping up its audits<\/a> of officers\u2019 camera use, but LAPD officials admit that most footage<\/a> that officers record goes unwatched<\/a>.<\/p>\n When the Mission Division scandal in the Valley burst into public view, department officials publicly called it an isolated problem of rogue gang officers.<\/p>\n