BAD L.A. COP OFFERS APOLOGY

With tears in his eyes, the disgraced policeman at the center of a
massive corruption scandal apologized as he was sentenced Friday to
five years in prison for stealing cocaine.

Rafael Perez, who has admitted framing innocent people, doctoring
crime scenes and lying in court, offered a message to rookie cops:
"Whoever chases monsters should see to it that in the process he does
not become a monster himself."

Perez was sentenced under a plea bargain that grants him immunity for
other crimes he has admitted to investigators. He was also given
credit for the time he has already spent in custody.

"The atrocities that were committed by me and those who stand accused
are unforgivable acts," said Perez, who detailed a career that, in his
words, began in idealism and deteriorated into corruption.

"I will tell you with every inch of my heart and soul, I am truly,
truly sorry," he said.

Perez, 32, was arrested in August 1998 for stealing eight pounds of
cocaine from an evidence room. His first trial ended in a hung jury.

Seeking leniency, he began telling investigators about alleged
misconduct among fellow officers, contending they beat, framed, stole
from and shot innocent people in the city’s crime-ridden Rampart area,
near downtown.

The scandal became public in September. In all, 20 officers have been
relieved of duty and 40 tainted convictions have been overturned since
Perez began talking. Several hundred more cases are under review. The
FBI and U.S. attorney’s office have recently joined the Los Angeles
Police Department in investigating.

Authorities have estimated that the financial toll on the city could
exceed $125 million.

"We will not tolerate a crooked cop," the Police Protective League
said. "We believe that Mr. Perez should have received the maximum
amount of time in prison for his gross violations of the law ... and
the betrayal of the community-police trust."