LAPD OFFICERS' BROTHEL, DRUG RING ALLEGED

LOS ANGELES-Police rented an apartment for on duty sexual liaisons with
prostitutes who were enlisted to sell drugs officers stole from dealers,
according to a report Friday on a widening police corruption scandal.

The one-bedroom apartment near the Rampart station was described as a "crash
pad" where officers partied like fraternity boys and had sex with
girlfriends and hookers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The new allegations come as the LAPD investigation is expanding. The probe
has already resulted in the release of one man from prison after officials
said he was framed.

And the fallout continued Friday as Superior Court Judge James A. Bascue
extended the suspension of injunctions against the 18th Street gang. The
orders limiting the gang's activity had been imposed based on declarations
by some of the same officers now caught up in the corruption case.

Bascue acted after prosecutors who sought the original 30-day suspensions
asked that they be extended because of the continuing police investigation.

The Times report disclosed that at least seven questionable police shootings
involving Rampart-station officers are being examined in the probe.

Investigators believe an anti-gang unit sergeant gave officers instructions
to plant guns on unarmed suspects and helped stage fictitious crime scenes,
the newspaper said.

The Rampart sergeant has been relieved of duty after allegations of
"quarterbacking the whole thing," said police Lt. Dan Hoffman.

Hoffman, a supervisor in charge of investigating officer-involved shootings,
detailed the allegations during a briefing for a group of specialized-unit
LAPD officers. The Times said he didn't know one of its reporters was
present. Hoffman refused to discuss his comments Friday.

According to the Times, Hoffman said the LAPD also believes Rampart officers
stole drugs from dealers and then recruited prostitutes to sell them for the
officers' profit.

Many of the allegations involving the Rampart station come from ex-officer
Rafael Perez, who is cooperating with the probe in exchange for a reduced
sentence on his cocaine-theft conviction.