L.A.P.D.’s CRASH Unit C = Community R = Resources A = Against S = Street H = Hoodlums Developed in the early 1970’s by LAPD Chief Daryl Gates

L.A.P.D.’s CRASH Unit

C = Community

R = Resources

A = Against

S = Street

H = Hoodlums

Developed in the early 1970’s by LAPD Chief Daryl Gates to combat the large increasing gang problem.

CRASH - History

LAPD gave wide latitude to CRASH to aggressively fight the growing gang problems in the city.

Gang Crimes plummeted in Rampart and city wide violence declined.

All 18 divisions of the LAPD had a drop in crime. Ramparts was a huge drop!!

CRASH Success The “Success” of CRASH came at a great price

Rampart CRASH officers developed an independent subculture that the “war on gangs” mentality was where the “ends justified the means”

CRASH Officer Problems CRASH officers resisted supervisors and their

control

CRASH officers ignored Departmental Policies & Procedures and Rules & Regulations.

LAPD department managers ignored warning signs and failed to provide leadership, oversight, management and supervision to control this very specialized unit.

Downfall of theRampart Division

Between 1997 & 1998, four separate criminal incidents, all having ties to LAPD officers as well as Rampart CRASH officers, caused the LAPD to focus on and investigate the Rampart Division and Rampart CRASH.

~ Rampart ~ The Beginning of the End

1. Road Rage Shootout between officers

2. A Bank Robbery committed by a LA police

3. Excessive Force incident

4. Theft of narcotics from an LAPD evidence locker

Rampart Incident #1 Road Rage Shootout 03-18-97

Off Duty LAPD officer Kevin Gaines who was African American was shot and killed by an on duty white LAPD officer Frank Lyga.



The shooting was ruled totally justifiable.




Gaines was found to be a “Blood” gang member




Gaines was found to be a “Blood” gang member

It was later speculated that Officer Rafael “Ray” Perez may have stolen the cocaine booked by Officer Lyga in retaliation for the shooting of Kevin Gaines to get Lyga into trouble.

Rampart Incident #2 Bank of America Bank Robbery 11-06-97

LAPD Officer David Mack was ultimately convicted of this bank robbery which netted $722,000. He never revealed who else assisted him in the robbery.



It is suspected that Officer Rafael Perez was a possible suspect.




LA “Bloods” gang member




LA “Bloods” gang member Perez, Mack and a friend went to Las Vegas after

the robbery and spent the weekend gambling and spending thousands of dollars.




LA “Bloods” gang member Perez, Mack and a friend went to Las Vegas after

the robbery and spent the weekend gambling and spending thousands of dollars.

Mack was sentenced to 14 years in a Federal prison. He was released in 2010. The monies were never recovered.

Rampart Incident #3 Rampart Station House Beating 02-26-98

Rampart CRASH Officer Brian Hewitt was found to have beaten & choked a handcuffed a gang member until he vomited blood, while inside the Rampart police station.

Rampart Incident #3 Rampart Station House Beating 02-26-98

Rampart CRASH Officer Brian Hewitt was found to have beaten & choked a handcuffed a gang member until he vomited blood, while inside the Rampart police station.

He needed immediate hospital attention at which time he revealed his being tortured by LAPD.

Rampart Incident #4 Missing Cocaine 03-27-98

LAPD property/evidence room discovered that six (6) pounds of cocaine was missing. $800k value…!!!


LAPD property/evidence room discovered that six (6) pounds of cocaine was missing. $800k value

Within one week, detectives focused their investigation on CRASH officer Rafael Perez.


LAPD property/evidence room discovered that six (6) pounds of cocaine was missing. $800k value

Within one week, detectives focused their investigation on CRASH officer Rafael Perez.

It was later learned that Perez was stealing and/or re-cutting the stolen drugs and reselling them for a major profit.

Rampart CRASH Task Force

These incidents led to the creation of the Rampart CRASH Task Force – May 1998

CRASH Unit Investigated Rampart CRASH Officer Rafael Perez arrested for

possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.



Jury deadlocked….



Jury deadlocked

Officer Perez charged with other incidents of drug “transfers”…..



Jury deadlocked

Officer Perez charged with other incidents of drug “transfers”.

Officer Perez cuts a plea deal and tells of many LAPD Rampart illegal acts…

Rampart Illegal Acts Officer Perez advised internal affairs investigators of

many LAPD wrongdoings Most notorious was the shooting of an unarmed gang

member Javier Ovando. Perez and his partner planted a drop gun and charged him with attempted murder of a police officer. He was convicted to 23 years.

Rampart Illegal Acts Officer Perez advised internal affairs investigators of

many LAPD wrongdoings Most notorious was the shooting of an unarmed gang

member Javier Ovando. Perez and his partner planted a drop gun and charged him with attempted murder of a police officer. He was convicted to 23 years.

Perez implicated at least 70 officers accusing them of misconduct from drinking beer on the job to bad totally unjustified shootings.

Rampart Summary May 2001


58 officers were finally brought before the Administrative Board 12 of them were suspended 7 of them resigned 5 of them were terminated



Over 100 criminal convictions were overturned




Millions of $$ settlements were offered by the city of Los Angeles including $15 million to Javier Ovando – who was shot and falsely accused by Officer Rafael Perez.




Millions of $$ settlements were offered by the city of Los Angeles including $15 million to Javier Ovando – who was shot and falsely accused by Officer Rafael Perez

Under Federal Mandate and Federal Consent Decree

Rampart Allegations Convicted Offenses included:

Unprovoked shootings


Unprovoked shootings Unprovoked beatings


Unprovoked shootings Unprovoked beatings Planting of evidence


Unprovoked shootings Unprovoked beatings Planting of evidence Framing of suspects


Unprovoked shootings Unprovoked beatings Planting of evidence Framing of suspects Stealing & dealing narcotics


Unprovoked shootings Unprovoked beatings Planting of evidence Framing of suspects Stealing & dealing narcotics Bank robbery


Unprovoked shootings Unprovoked beatings Planting of evidence Framing of suspects Stealing & dealing narcotics Bank robbery Perjury


Unprovoked shootings Unprovoked beatings Planting of evidence Framing of suspects Stealing & dealing narcotics Bank robbery Perjury Covering up these and many more crimes….

Rampart Investigation Suspicions

Officers Perez, his partner Nino Durden and David Mack are alleged to responsible for the death of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. – aka Biggie Smalls.

Rampart Investigation Suspicions

Officers Perez, his partner Nino Durden and David Mack are alleged to responsible for the death of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. – aka Biggie Smalls.

FACT: All officers were active members of the L.A. “Bloods” street gang and they were also associated with “Death Row Records” & owner “Suge” Knight….

Questions Were the officers of the CRASH unit a product of the

police department environment?



Was this scandal a result of: Lack of Supervision?



Was this scandal a result of: Lack of Supervision? Poor Recruiting?



Was this scandal a result of: Lack of Supervision? Poor Recruiting? Poor Hiring?



Was this scandal a result of: Lack of Supervision? Poor Recruiting? Poor Hiring? Organizational Culture indifferent to citizens needs?



Was this scandal a result of: Lack of Supervision? Poor Recruiting? Poor Hiring? Organizational Culture indifferent to citizens needs? Combination of these things?

Questions Was a tolerant attitude of supervisors and command

officers to blame?


officers to blame?

What could have been done to prevent this from happening?


officers to blame?


Is this situation done in LAPD and is the department in good standing today?


officers to blame?


Is this situation done in LAPD and is the department in good standing today?

If so, why?

If not, why?

Final Essay Answer all of the following questions:

How has terrorism impacted the police mission in the U.S.? What disagreements exist regarding the appropriate law enforcement behavior which fights terrorism but maintains personal liberties?

What role does social stigma play in police ethics? Give specific examples from your reading or your experiences where social stigma played a role in either furthering police corruption or reducing it.

Are the ethical forces behind police corruption the same as those involved in police abuses of force? Support your answer.

Discuss individual conscience and police assignments using specific examples. How can training prepare would be police officers for the ethical dilemmas they will face?

The paper will be a minimum of 5 double-spaced pages.

Get any late/past due papers/assignments in ASAP!!

Unhealthy Culture???

The Boiling Frog Syndrome

Who is Right??

“There should be no such thing as a crooked cop. You’re either a crook, or you’re a cop.” ~ Frank Serpico 1971

Who is Right??

“There should be no such thing as a crooked cop. You’re either a crook, or you’re a cop.” ~ Frank Serpico 1971

“Crooked cop? A cop today who’s a ‘goody two shoes’ is called a ‘Serpico.” ~ Convicted ex-police officer, Michael Dowd told Barbara Walters that, 25 years after Serpico’s trials and tribulations…. (1986)

Per Frank Serpico - NYPD“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet

exist in which an honest police officer can act without fear or ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers. We must create an atmosphere in which the dishonest officer fears the honest one and not the other way around.

~ Knapp Commission Hearing - 1971

Per Frank Serpico - NYPD“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in

which an honest police officer can act without fear or ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers. We must create an atmosphere in which the dishonest officer fears the honest one and not the other way around.

I hope that this investigation and any future ones will deal with corruption at all levels within the department and not limit themselves to cases involving individual patrolmen.


Per Frank Serpico - NYPD“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which

an honest police officer can act without fear or ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers. We must create an atmosphere in which the dishonest officer fears the honest one and not the other way around.


Police corruption cannot exist unless it is at least tolerated at higher levels in the department.


Per Frank Serpico - NYPD“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which

an honest police officer can act without fear or ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers. We must create an atmosphere in which the dishonest officer fears the honest one and not the other way around.


Police corruption cannot exist unless it is at least tolerated at higher levels in the department.

Therefore, the most important result that can come from these hearings is a conviction by police officers, even more than the public, that the department will change.”


Last Class ~ Goodbye ~ Good Luck This is our last class together - Good Luck!!

Thank you all for being such a great class!

Thank you for working so hard! I appreciate all your efforts.

Congratulations to those graduating soon and keep on doing it – don’t stop!!

I hope you enjoyed the class and the subject matter of Police Ethics!!

Keep in touch – always nice to know how you are doing

Remember to keep you own Personal Ethical Compass pointing North. Stay ethical. Don’t give up!!

Please - Don’t throw ALL officers into the same pot!

Documents

L.A.P.D.’s CRASH Unit C = Community R = Resources A = Against S = Street H = Hoodlums Developed in the early 1970’s by LAPD Chief Daryl Gates