COUNCIL ASKS U.S. TO HEAD RAMPART INVESTIGATION

Police: Federal Spokesman Says Request Will Probably Be Turned Down, At
Least For Now.

Expressing dismay about the ongoing feud between Los Angeles Police
Chief Bernard C. Parks and Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti, the City Council
on Wednesday passed a resolution calling on the U.S. Department of
Justice to head a task force to investigate criminality in the Rampart
corruption scandal.

A representative of the Justice Department said the federal agency is
considering the council's proposal. However, sources said the federal
officials will probably turn down the request, at least for now.

"What the council did is meaningless," one official said. "They have
no jurisdiction over the Department of Justice."

Nevertheless, council members said it was important to act, even if
the vote proves ineffective.

"We can continue to allow the investigation to be undermined by the
finger-pointing and the backbiting by Garcetti and Parks or we can
adopt a different approach," Councilman Mike Feuer told his
colleagues. "I think it is a shame it has come down to this. But this
is the best chance to insure that the investigation is thorough and
fair."

The motion--approved in a 10-1 vote--urges the Justice Department to
establish a group of federal, state and local law enforcement
officials assigned to investigate and prosecute criminal cases related
to the scandal.

Feuer first proposed the motion five weeks ago. At the time, the
council brushed aside the idea, deciding instead to forward the matter
to the council's Public Safety Committee for review. In the last few
weeks, however, a bitter feud has erupted between Garcetti and Parks,
prompting the council to reconsider the plan.

"I realize this is just a request," Councilwoman Laura Chick said.
"I'm very much hoping that this communication is an indication from
the council that we applaud efforts of working together."

Councilman Nate Holden was the lone dissenter. He said the
investigations already underway should be allowed to proceed without
being disrupted by another investigative agency.

Although he voted to support the motion, Councilman Nick Pacheco said
privately that he has some reservations about the move.

Several other lawmakers, meanwhile, said they still want their
colleagues to go even further by establishing an outside, independent
commission to probe the scandal.

"I want to make it very clear that I in no way see this as a
substitute for what I still believe is imperative--that is an outside
investigation by people who have no stake in this,' Councilman Joel
Wachs said.