COUNCILMAN CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT LAPD PROBE

Chief Is Opposed To An Outside Investigator

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Pressure built Tuesday to take a sweeping corruption
probe out of the hands of police and turn it over to an independent
investigator.

City Councilman Joel Wachs, who is running for mayor, called for creating a
citizens' commission to investigate allegations that Rampart Division
officers framed suspects, robbed drug dealers and shot unarmed suspects.

More than 30 convictions have been overturned as a result of the corruption
probe and 20 officers have been relieved of duty, suspended, fired or have
quit since the scandal broke in September.

"The Rampart scandal may well be the worst man-made disaster this city has
ever faced," Wachs said.

As for the LAPD investigation, "it's just simply too difficult to be
completely thorough and totally objective when you're looking at oneself,"
Wachs said.

The commission would be similar to the now-defunct Christopher Commission
that proposed reforms in the wake of the 1991 police beating of black
motorist Rodney King. The council will consider Wachs' motion next week.
Former Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, now on the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors, made a similar suggestion last week.

Police Chief Bernard C. Parks opposes the idea.

"It would cripple the department if we do not come out of this circumstance
with (an) impression from the public that we have credibility and the
ability to handle issues and scandals in the future," he said.

The city's civilian advisory-only Police Commission is already scheduled to
review the LAPD's investigation. On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously
voted to provide the panel with the resources it needs for the review.

The LAPD will formally submit its findings to the commission by March 1.
Commissioner Raquelle De La Rocha said it will contaiin more than 100
recommended changes in police procedures, she said, declining to be specific.

She also defended the Police Department inquiry, which has involved more
than 200 investigators.

"The Police Department itself uncovered the Rampart scandal, so the system
was working in terms of actually coming up with the initial problems."