PAYING THE COST OF POLICE CORRUPTION

As local governments around the nation gear up to take full fiscal
advantage of huge windfalls of tobacco settlement money - preparing to use
the fund for everything from new infrastructure to new school programs -
Los Angeles is getting to know the full cost of police corruption.

The scenarios for the city are infuriating, no matter how many times you
shuffle the deck and deal the cards. Here are some of the options
available to pay for the anticipated huge legal costs of settling with
those who were falsely arrested, charged, incarcerated, and/or injured by
corrupt Los Angeles officers in the infamous Rampart scandal.

Mayor Richard Riordan has suggested diverting $300 million in expected
tobacco settlement money to help pay for Rampart lawsuit settlements.
Ronald F. Deaton, the city's chief legislative analyst, wants to sequester
unspent budget money and forestall any new spending in the coming fiscal
year. Others will surely suggest program cuts or the use of the city's
reserve funds to help meet needs and obligations.

The proposals have good and bad points. It will be up to the mayor, the
City Council and various legislative and financial experts to work together
and consider all possibilities before rushing toward any particular
solution. 85

There are no strings on the city's tobacco money, and health care is the
responsibility of Los Angeles County. Using the tobacco funds for the
Rampart problem could preserve funds for vital city services. But under
such a diversion, the city would get slightly less than one-third of the
$300 million that would result if the settlement money were dispersed
gradually over a number of years. 85 Because of complexities involved in a
diversion, the city would be wise to insist on an arrangement that would
retain flexibility to use the remaining funds for other purposes if all the
tobacco money were not needed for Rampart settlement. 85

No one knows how many strong lawsuits will come out of the Rampart
investigation, which has uncovered evidence of perjury, drug dealing,
evidence planting and more by police officers.

The true costs to the city, besides shame, are not yet clear. Our elected
officials face one of the toughest fiscal decisions in recent memory. In
the end Los Angeles must ensure that nothing like the Rampart scandal can
ever again grow within the ranks of the Police Department.

- - The Los Angeles Times