SUITS IN POLICE SCANDAL

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Richard Riordan, confronted with the looming financial
fallout from the worst police corruption scandal in city history, said
Thursday that he favors diverting $300 million in anticipated tobacco
settlement money to pay off the cost of resolving lawsuits that arise from
the scandal.

On Thursday, Riordan insisted that the scandal involving the police
department's Rampart Division would not bankrupt Los Angeles.

He vowed to protect city programs and taxpayers, while still making amends
with people who have been abused by Los Angeles police officers implicated
in the growing list of abuses, which include improper shootings, framed
suspects, thefts, beatings, perjury and cover-ups.