L.A. MIGHT USE TOBACCO AWARD TO COVER POLICE SUITS

LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Richard Riordan recommended yesterday that Los
Angeles set aside its share of the national tobacco settlement -- up
to $300 million -- to cover lawsuits brought by victims of the city's
police corruption scandal.

"This is the best use of these dollars," Riordan said at a news
conference. "Though we have no way of knowing the dollar amount, we
must expect and prepare for tens of millions of dollars of liability."

The mayor said the move would safeguard against possible cuts in city
services or new taxes.

City officials have estimated that lawsuits associated with the
scandal in the Police Department's Rampart Division will cost at least
$125 million. Lawsuits already have been filed on behalf of some men
wrongly imprisoned by police.

Riordan's announcement came as the scandal took on a higher profile
after months of generating little protest. Chief Bernard Parks
appeared before the City Council on Wednesday in his most
comprehensive, public review of the six-month investigation.

Investigators say rogue cops planted evidence, made up testimony,
staged crime scenes and in some cases shot unarmed suspects.

Yesterday, a judge agreed to throw out the convictions of nine more
people whose cases prosecutors say were tainted by police misconduct.
The dismissals bring to 40 the number of convictions overturned.

"We have dozens of more cases under review," District Attorney Gil
Garcetti said.

As many as 20 officers have been relieved of duty, fired, suspended or
have quit since the investigation started last fall. Police have
refused to say how many officers are still under suspicion.

Garcetti said he is doubling the number of prosecutors assigned to the
investigation, with a staff of 19 expected to be on board within the
next two weeks.

Former undercover Officer Rafael Perez, convicted of stealing cocaine
from an evidence locker, has detailed the corruption in his former
unit and suggested it went beyond Rampart.

No charges have been filed against any officers implicated in the
corruption, though police have recommended prosecuting three officers
and Garcetti has said he expects his investigation to result in charges.