Los Angeles, November 18, 2014 — In response to the release of the report, Perspectives on the Disciplinary System of the LAPD, by the Special Assistant for Constitutional Policing, Tyler Izen, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) issued the following statement:
“The report’s recommendations for fixing the disciplinary system of the LAPD are consistent with the LAPPL’s long-held goal of ensuring fairness in all proceedings, but it missed the mark. Unfortunately, by narrowly focusing the report on the roles of gender, ethnicity and rank in determining discipline, the report missed the opportunity to address the root cause of officer dissatisfaction with the system, favoritism and the unfairness that it generates. Too often the outcome of disciplinary proceedings depends on who an officer knows and whether they have connections in the right places. Favoritism is not a perception problem. It is a real problem. Hiding behind gender, ethnicity and rank statistics to conclude the Department is dealing with a perception problem rather than a real problem is disheartening and counterproductive. Until the Chief and the Police Commission recognize the systemic problem of favoritism in the disciplinary system of the LAPD, and implement real and effective written protections into the system, it will remain broken. The consequences of that broken system will be manifested in low officer morale, costly liability and a lack of trust and confidence in the Department. The League has proposed fair and balanced language to the Department that will prevent unequal treatment of officers that has been ignored. Artful dodging of the real problem solves nothing.”
Contact: Paul Haney (626) 755-4759 or [email protected].
About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.
