How Close Is the LAPD to Compliance with the Rampart Consent Decree?
The Consent Decree was an outgrowth of the Rampart scandal, when Clinton administration officials threatened a civil rights lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles if it did not agree to a series of reforms to be carried out under direct federal oversight. “We negotiated for about 6 months,” Gerald Chaleff told the audience, “and came to a 187 paragraph agreement.” It was signed by a federal judge on June 15, 2001, and is supposed to run for 5 years. “Now there are federal monitors of the LAPD on performance in relation to the agreement. The decree is for a five year term, but we must be in compliance by 2 years before end of five years. That is due by June 15, 2004, less than one year away.” What does the decree do? “It specifies how we investigate use of force, how we investigate complaints, it requires transparency, and civilian oversight and supervision of the department.” For transparency, Chaleff told the audience to check out the department’s website, www.lapdonline.org, which p
