MAYOR CALLS POLICE SCANDAL DISGUSTING, PROMISES THOROUGH INVESTIGATION

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Mayor Richard Riordan promised on Monday a thorough
investigation into one of the biggest police scandals in city history and,
along with Police Chief Bernard Parks, denounced as disgusting the alleged
actions of the officers.

"You have my word, we are doing everything possible to get to the bottom of
this," Riordan told a news conference. "It's unfortunate, disappointing and
disgusting that any police officer would violate the laws that he or she is
sworn to uphold."

The mayor's involvement is the latest development in a 17-month police
corruption investigation that has resulted in the suspension of 10 officers
and a supervisor from the Rampart Division and disciplinary action against
one commanding officer.

Riordan pledged to stay involved to "ensure the integrity of this
investigation" and asked for public support for the department.

"Do not let a few evil officers ruin the reputation of the entire police
force," he said.

City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who chairs the council's Public Safety
Committee, said she plans to introduce a motion Tuesday asking for the
district attorney's involvement because she's worried whether the department
is capable of investigating itself.

"We want to make sure there are appropriate mechanisms, safeguards and
balances in this investigation," she said in a phone interview.

Parks said the disciplinary action taken so far was related to a commanding
officer's knowledge of an alleged beating last year by a Rampart station
officer. He declined to elaborate on the penalty the commanding officer faces.

At the center of the probe so far has been Rafael Perez, a former Rampart
narcotics officer who pleaded guilty last week to stealing eight pounds of
cocaine from an evidence room.

Perez has told investigators that officers have lied in court, framed
innocent people, and shot at least one man, then put a gun in his hand and
arrested him for assault.

He made the allegations in an effort to obtain a lesser penalty when he is
sentenced Oct. 22 on the cocaine charge.

When asked what motive Perez had for stealing, Parks replied, "All he said
was that it was all about the money."

Meanwhile, Javier Francisco Ovando, the man Perez said was shot and framed,
was released from prison last week.

Parks declined Monday to say where Ovando is except to say it is somewhere
in Los Angeles and that Ovando, who was paralyzed by the shooting, is not in
police custody. He is cooperating with scandal investigators and is free to
meet with friends and family, Parks said.

The chief also defended the department's process for weeding out bad cops,
saying even the best system could not eliminate them all.

Amnesty International, in a report released Tuesday, said a growing number
of police departments "lack effective oversight" on officer-involved
shootings and use of force. Many officers "escape adequate discipline" for
actions that violated the rights of suspects, the human rights watchdog
group said.