HEADLINE: PROBE MAY END TODAY INTO THEFT OF EVIDENCE 

BYLINE: DEBBIE ROBINSON Press Journal Staff Writer

A fired Sebastian police dispatcher said Tuesday he is cooperating with a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into the alleged theft of at least $13,000 from police evidence.

But Jay Bennett said he has not hired a lawyer for his possible defense in the event authorities file grand theft charges against him.

Bennett, a 10-year veteran with the Police Department, is the target of the investigation, City Manager Terrence Moore said Sunday. Bennett was fired from his job Friday, Moore said.

Rick Pitchinini of the FDLE said Tuesday the investigation should be completed today when investigators expect to obtain an arrest warrant.

 Pitchinini would not name the target of the arrest warrant and he refused to give details about the investigation that city officials said started late last week.

Bennett declined to comment Tuesday on the investigation into the missing money, but did say he was going to do whatever FDLE wants him to do.

Bennett, who was reached by telephone at Home Place Store where he has worked since November, would not confirm Tuesday that he confessed last Friday to the theft, even though Moore said Bennett did confess. Moore said Sunday that Bennett had indicated his involvement in the theft of at least $13,000.

"I'm not going to comment at all," Bennett said.

Moore refused Tuesday to give details about the investigation.

He said the city already had started work on new procedures for handling evidence, but had not fully implemented the policy. He refused to say what policy changes would be made.

Two unrelated incidents led police to discover the missing cash. Auditors turned up evidence of the missing money during an examination of city financial records. And the family of a murder victim asked police about returning cash that had been seized by police during an investigation into the woman's death.

About $13,000 taken from the home of Ann Marie Fischer, 76, turned up missing. Fischer was murdered by then-19-year-old Choya Hodges of Sebastian in Fischer's Sebastian home in 1997. Hodges is currently serving a life prison term.

Mayor Chuck Neuberger said Tuesday the city probably would be liable for the $13,000 owed to the Fischer family.

Bennett was promoted on June 14 from communications technician to support services supervisor and given a pay raise to $13.29 an hour from $12.91 an hour.

Bennett had been in charge of police evidence for the last couple of years, Moore said. He was one of two employees who had keys to the evidence locker located at the police station. Moore would not identify the name of the other employee with access to the evidence locker.

Police Chief Randy White could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

CORRECTION-DATE: February 17, 2000

CORRECTION:
Piccininni is the correct spelling of the last name of Special Agent Richard J. Piccininni of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. His last name was incorrectly spelled on Page A8 of the Press Journal in a Feb. 9 story.

HEADLINE: Audit critical of some Sheriff's Department acts; Chief deputy defends use of funds, admits banking error
BYLINE: Michael Silence, News-Sentinel staff writer

But county Finance Director Kathy Hamilton cautioned Monday that the findings are preliminary and subject to change once the Sheriff's Department responds to each finding.

Still, she said the findings are troubling in that some of them have been noted in previous annual audits.

"It is a red flag when any of the findings continue from year to year," she said. 

The findings are preliminary because an audited department has the chance to respond to the findings to refute them, present further documentation or concede they are true.

Based on that, Hamilton said it is possible once the auditing firm of Coulter and Justus sees the responses, it could change a finding or drop it. Coulter and Justus did the annual audit for the county.

"The policy and procedure findings we disagree on, and we will always disagree on them," said Dwight Van de Vate, chief deputy for the Sheriff's Department.

The audit stated a Sheriff's Department's bank account has exceeded the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s $ 100,000 insured limit by $ 20,637.

Last year's final audit found the same problem, but that one exceeded the limit by $ 162,194. The Sheriff's Department responded in that audit: "The Sheriff's Department has instituted policies to ensure that no more than $100,000 will be placed in any single bank account as required by state statute."

Van de Vate said the department, which is preparing a response to the auditors, does not dispute this finding. He said the department will take further measures to prevent the limit being surpassed.

 In another preliminary finding, the audit states a "bullet containment system" was bought for $ 96,000. The department paid $ 48,000 through the narcotics account administered by the department and paid the remaining $ 48,000 by submitting it to the county purchasing department.

The audit notes the payment procedure circumvented the County Charter, which requires all expenditures of $ 50,000 or more must receive permission from County Commission.

 Van de Vate said the department did comply with all purchasing requirements, and he said the auditors erred in treating two separate transactions as one purchase.

The audit also notes that all "non-confidential" purchases should be made through the county's centralized purchasing system and that competitive bids should be solicited in compliance with the county's procurement policy.

The audit also found $ 106,000 of federal drug funds were used to construct an indoor firing range off Maloneyville Road, again going through a narcotics account rather than the purchasing department.

That use of federal drug funds should stop, and "we also recommend the Sheriff implement procedures to ensure that all purchases are conducted in accordance with local procurement policies," the audit says.

Van de Vate said the department does use a competitive bid process and did so in this case. He also said it is the department's view that use of federal drug funds for building projects is allowed under the law.

As for confidential drug funds, the audit found instances in which cash advances were not properly signed and authorized. In one instance, $ 31,000 was taken from a cash safe and not documented on what is called the Agents Activity Log.

Van de Vate said auditors looked only at drug agents on that fund and not at Career Criminal Unit officers, who were the ones who took the money out and documented that withdrawal.

In another case, funds from a drug seizure were commingled into the same account with funds from a theft seizure. The audit notes that should not be done because those funds are designated for different purposes.

The department disagrees with that interpretation, and Van de Vate said the auditors incorrectly concluded the drug and theft seizures are handled the same under state law.

The audit found that the department's Narcotics Unit holds and maintains a bank account for federal drug seizures, contrary to federal standards. Those standards "suggest," according to the audit, that those funds be maintained in a centralized accounting office, such as the Finance Department.

Van de Vate said sheriff's officials have reviewed the handling of funds and believe they are in compliance with all state and federal laws.

The previous years' audit also cited as inappropriate not running purchases through the county; confidential drug funds not being signed for and authorized; and not maintaining federal drug funds at a central office.

Preliminary audit findings 

* Sheriff's Department cash balance in one bank account was more than $20,000 over the FDIC insured limit.

* Certain purchases exceeding $ 50,000 not made through the county Purchasing Department, as required by the County Charter, or approved by County Commission.

* $ 106,000 used from federal drug funds to construct an indoor firing range were done from federal narcotics account rather than the county Purchasing Department.

* Firing range was not listed as a fixed asset for the county, as prescribed by generally accepted accounting principles.

* Instances of cash advances of funds for confidential investigative purposes which were not properly signed and authorized "in accordance with state procedures."

* $ 31,000 was withdrawn from a cash safe "and the use of the cash was not documented on the Agents Activity Log."

* A drug seizure of $ 20,504 and a theft seizure of $ 5,496 were commingled and deposited into a certificate of deposit overseen by the Sheriff's Department. Those funds are for separate purposes and, therefore, should not be commingled.

* A $ 95,000 theft seizure was deposited in a Knox County Credit Union account administered by the Sheriff's Department when it should have been deposited with the county Finance Department.

* The department's Narcotics Unit holds and maintains bank accounts for federal drug seizures when federal standards require a centralized accounting office maintain the funds.

HEADLINE: Board upholds officer's firing after allegations of stealing

BYLINE: MELISSA MOORE

Police Chief Greg Phares told the board at an appeal hearing Thursday that he fired Daryl Davis not because of the criminal allegations against him, but because he disobeyed an order to answer questions in an internal investigation.

The Sheriff's Office arrested Davis on July 9 on counts of malfeasance in office, obstruction of justice and public bribery.

He was accused of removing a cellular telephone cloning device from the evidence room and returning it to the alleged drug dealer from whom it had been seized.

He was arrested again on July 12 for allegedly helping an evidence room employee steal a gun that had been seized in the same case. The employee and her boyfriend, who were both arrested, are accused of getting $15,000 from the alleged drug dealer for stealing the gun and returning it to him.

Robert Randolph, Davis' attorney, has denied that Davis did anything wrong.  The meeting got heated when Randolph told the board he and Davis tried to help Phares root out corruption in the department, but the chief wasn't interested.

"We want to help Chief Phares clean up his department. He does not care. He got him a scapegoat," Randolph said.

Phares interrupted the meeting to defend his department.

"Let me tell you something Mr. Randolph," he said pointing his finger at the lawyer.

When Randolph tried to interrupt, Phares stopped him.  "You ran your mouth. You let me finish," he said sharply.

Phares then told the board that Randolph and Davis had claimed that they could give him information about corrupt police officers and a corrupt sheriff's deputy, but never came through.

Randolph argued to the board that Davis refused to answer questions about the case based on his right against self-incrimination in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Phares told the board that police officers cannot rely on the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions in internal investigations.

A Supreme Court decision prevents anything the officer says during the internal investigation from being used against him in court.

Board member Henry Clark asked the chief why he didn't put Davis on leave until the outcome of his criminal case was known.

Phares said that he fired Davis because of his refusal to answer questions about conduct that goes "right to the heart of the integrity of the Police Department."That refusal was serious enough to warrant his firing regardless of the criminal issues, he said.

Randolph told the board that he had advised Davis to refuse to answer questions on Fifth Amendment grounds.

Joe Lotwick, Phares' attorney, told the board that "if (Davis) acted on the advice of his attorney and that advice was bad advice, that's unfortunate."Board members Cynthia Wilkin-son, Johnny Johnston, Daryl Edgens and Lyle Johnson voted to uphold the chief's decision. Only Clark voted against upholding the termination. Randolph said he will appeal the board's decision in court.

In another hearing Thursday, the board upheld Cpl. Michael Cantu's three-day suspension for failing to provide a doctor's excuse to support his sick leave.  Johnson, who represents police officers on the board, and Edgens, who represents firefighters, voted against upholding the suspension.

HEADLINE: EXCERPTS FROM GRAND JURY REPORT

Drugs 'sent to the wind'

"... Brown exercised total control over all drug investigations, drug evidence and destruction of drugs that were seized. A number of officers testified that Brown ordered them to place confiscated drugs on his desk or inside his door if he wasn't present to receive them. This violated proper police procedure and compromised the integrity of the evidence.

"Many current and former officers testified it was their understanding that Brown destroyed all the drug evidence. According to Brown's testimony, drug evidence that was no longer needed for court was 'some flushed, some burned, some sent to the wind.' Brown testified that he would occasionally destroy drugs in a 'burn barrel' at his home. There was not a procedure for destruction of drugs and no witnesses were used to ensure that they were actually destroyed.

There was no evidence that destruction orders for drugs were ever sought from the courts by the VPD (Vinton Police Department) during the administration of Foutz and Brown. The Code of Virginia, 18.2-25.3 requires that a court order be obtained prior to the destruction of any drugs. Both Brown and Foutz claimed that they did not know that there was such a law (which has been in effect since 1973) requiring a court order ... "

Gun seizures 'likely' a violation

"The handling of firearms by the VPD was another cause for concern. Guns were stored in a most haphazard manner. About 40 guns appeared on top of a table in the evidence room shortly after the SP (state police) began this investigation.

The officer in charge of the evidence room was never told how the guns suddenly appeared or from where they had come ...

"Brown testified that all of the guns that suddenly appeared in the evidence room had been stored at all times in his locker in the department. If he testified truthfully concerning this matter, it is yet another example of mismanagement ...

"Firearms and other property were seized by Brown ... without criminal charges being placed, likely violating the rights of the owners. Brown made a habit of giving individuals the choice of surrendering their property or being charged, even in instances where no crime had even been committed."

Officers 'unsuitable and unqualified'

"We find that Foutz and Brown are unsuitable and unqualified to have the positions of authority and trust that they hold. Neither have the leadership ability or the management skills required for the positions of Chief and Assistant Chief of Police for the town of Vinton. Foutz generally stayed in his office if he was present at the police department. ... His support of Brown was
blind and misplaced. With rare exceptions, he depended on information provided by Brown in making decisions about the VPD without attempting to determine the truth for himself. The numerous complaints made to him about Lt. Brown's conduct were disregarded or ignored."

HEADLINE: REPORT: VINTON'S EX-TOP COPS 'UNSUITABLE AND UNQUALIFIED';
  24-PAGE GRAND JURY REPORT RELEASED

BYLINE: KIMBERLY O'BRIEN THE ROANOKE TIMES; STAFF WRITER ZEKE BARLOW CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

Bikes for needy children given to the police department's families and friends.

Slush funds. Unlawful arrests. Intimidation of witnesses.

The list goes on, but that's what a special grand jury investigating the Vinton Police Department found. The details, made public Friday in a 24-page report, paint a picture of two cops who the jury described as "unsuitable and unqualified" to have held the positions they did.

The details also, according to the report, back up the decision of Vinton town officials to force the resignations of Chief Ricky Foutz and Lt. Bill Brown shortly after the investigation began last fall.

"Neither have the leadership ability or the management skills required for the positions of chief and assistant chief of police for the town of Vinton," the jury wrote. "In our opinion, town officials would have been derelict in their duties had they permitted either Foutz or Brown to remain at the VPD in any capacity."

Town officials said Friday they were "thankful" and "relieved" that the report had been made public. Town Attorney Buck Heartwell said the report should make clear to the public why council had to take the actions it did in asking for the two officers' resignations.

The special grand jury began meeting in November to investigate allegations about possible wrongdoing in the police department. After more than three months, the jury released a report showing evidence of improper handling of public funds, drugs and weapons.

The jury also pointed to Brown as the source of the department's problems for ruling by "fear, intimidation and retribution." And while the investigation centered on Brown, the jury said Foutz, described as an "apathetic chief," was also to blame for choosing to blindly ignore complaints.

"It troubles us that the problems were apparent to almost every single member of the VPD, with the notable exception of the chief," the report states. "He either willfully chose to ignore these grave problems, or was so oblivious and incompetent that he was not even aware of them.

"Either alternative justified his departure."

The problems ranged from charging for fingerprint services to maintain a "personal slush fund" to partially smoked marijuana cigarettes, one with lipstick on it, found in Brown's desk drawer by State Police investigators.

Brown testified that the joints were either turned in to the police department or found in an ashtray. He said he kept them so he could demonstrate - by lighting up in his office - what marijuana smelled like to parents.

According to testimony of current and former officers, Brown exercised "total control" over all drug investigations, drug evidence and destruction of drugs that were seized. But his methods, according to the jury, often violated police procedures.

For example: He told officers to place confiscated drugs on his desk or inside his door if he wasn't there. He occasionally destroyed drugs in a "burn barrel" at his home. And there was no evidence that destruction orders for drugs were ever sought from the courts.

State law requires that a court order be obtained prior to the destruction of any drugs. Both Brown and Foutz testified, however, that they did not know there was such a law. It has been in effect since 1973.

But Brown testified that drug evidence no longer needed for court was "some flushed, some burned, some sent to the wind."

The jury said Brown's involvement with the seized drugs was "very suspicious."

"The manner in which he operated with regard to other people made many enemies for him and also made it easy for others to suspect him of drug use and other criminal activity," the report read.

At the same time, the jury said they were giving Brown the benefit of the doubt "in light of his strenuous denials of wrongdoing."

The jury also found irregularities in the way firearms were handled. Shortly after the investigation began, about 40 guns appeared on a table in the evidence room, and no one knew where they came from. Brown later testified the guns had been stored in his locker at the police department.

When the state police did an inventory, they found 90 weapons that didn't have any documentation, some of which had been in the room for more than 20 years. Two of the weapons had been reported stolen but never returned to their owners, and at least four were taken from individuals who were not charged with crimes.

One weapon, turned in by Foutz when he resigned, was determined to be stolen about 10 years ago. According to the report, the weapon will be returned to its owner by the state police.

Both Foutz and Brown admitted that the handling of evidence at the police department was "a joke," the jury said.

Finally, the jury found mishandling of public funds - including money from the annual Haunted House and a fund used to help needy families.

One year, a bike-a-thon sponsored by a local radio station and the Marine Corps donated extra bikes to the Needy Family Fund. There were a number of bikes left over, but they were given to police department employees and their friends rather than being kept for the next holiday season, the report said.

Neil Vener, the special prosecutor assigned to the case, said Monday he was not pursuing criminal charges. Although there were irregularities in the handling of drugs, weapons and public funds, none rose to the criminal level, he said.

Still, the jury said that in some instances, illegal conduct did occur. But, they wrote, the statute of limitations had passed or the statute violated did not provide for a penalty.

Supporters of Foutz said during a town meeting Tuesday that the allegations against the former chief came from a few former disgruntled employees. And Brown's lawyer said in a statement Friday that the special grand jury was biased and refused to hear from witnesses on behalf of Foutz and Brown.

But the report cited the testimony of 53 people that included former and current officers from the Vinton Police Department as well as from residents and officers from other departments.

According to the jury, Brown's "severe lack of judgement in the conduct of police activities and his acute lack of management skills have created a climate of suspicion of criminal, unethical or illegal behavior on his part. The suspicion is held by the majority of the police officers currently employed by the VPD and citizens and police officers outside the department."

The jury concluded its report by suggesting that a new chief be hired from outside the Vinton Police Department, that the town council establish a more active role of oversight, possibly by designating a committee to supervise it.

Lisa Foutz, the former chief's wife, said the family was still digesting the report. She said Foutz would make a comment next week.

Cliff Massengill, a 30-year-old resident who said he is a friend of Foutz's, said he is disappointed with what he read and had a hard time understanding it. Like many of the 15 or so residents who showed up to look at the report, Massengill looked dejected after finishing.

"I have mixed emotions," he said. "I didn't understand how these things could happen."

But like town officials, Massengill said he thinks Vinton would bounce back from the scandal that has pitted neighbor against neighbor.

"Vinton's a small town and it will recover," he said. "It's got a lot of good people."

Vinton Police Report

The special grand jury that investigated the Vinton police department says the former chief and his top lieutenant mishandled money, drugs, guns and other evidence. Among the highlights, the report found:

Drugs were improperly disposed of without court order. In some cases, Lt. Bill Brown said he burned drugs at his home, without witnesses. Other drugs were "sent to the wind."

Among the guns in the department's possession were several that had been reported stolen by their owners, but whose recovery had never been reported either to them or to state police.

The officers admitted their handling of evidence was "a joke." Drugs were sometimes left on Brown's desk or in his office.

The officers gave away bicycles and toys left over from the Christmas toy giveaway to department employees and friends, rather than hold them for next season.

The officer charged for fingerprints and put the cash in a "personal slush fund."

Such poor records were kept on the department's charitable activities that $3,179 remains unaccounted for, leaving open "the possibility of misuse of these funds."

HEADLINE: Police Union Wants Independent Panel to Review Rampart Investigation

BYLINE: By TERRI VERMEULEN

In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Protective League characterized its decision as an ''historic departure from its past bulwark defense of all things LAPD.''

''This represents a great leap forward for the police union, and it's also the first step in reinforcing to the public that restoring the credibility of the police department is our single biggest priority,'' said LAPPL President Ted Hunt.

''It is also important for the public to know that the police union is solidly in favor of a thorough, fair and comprehensive investigation,'' Hunt said.

In its 75-year history, the union has never before advocated for outside review or a citizens' panel to oversee investigations, according to Hunt.

Hunt said it is ''imperative that an official, arms-length and objective viewpoint weigh in on the report in order to assure public confidence in its findings.''

USC law professor Erwin Chemerinsky confirmed he has agreed to oversee an independent analysis of the Board of Inquiry Report, which is scheduled to be released March 1.

''I applaud the police union and join in calling for an independent citizens' commission to make recommendations so that this tragedy cannot happen again,'' said Chemerinsky, who chaired the Los Angeles Elected Charter Reform Commission.

Chemerinsky will have a staff of researchers and administrative support and will interview police experts in and outside of the union, LAPD and Los Angeles, according to the LAPPL.

Chemerinsky said in a telephone interview that he expects his work to take 30 to 90 days.

Hunt said the review ''is not meant to supersede the work of the civilian Board of Police Commissioners, but they are too close to the situation.''

''Any report that portends to be thorough must include findings and recommendations regarding the Police Commission and its role in rooting out corruption, hiring policies and management oversight,'' Hunt said.

''This they cannot do objectively without active public participation in the process.''

The corruption scandal was spurred by disgraced former Rampart officer Rafael Perez, who agreed to tell investigators about alleged corruption in his $ % former unit in exchange for a lighter sentence for his guilty plea to stealing $ % about eight pounds of cocaine from a police evidence locker. 

HEADLINE: Newsline

Decision imminent on charging officers

WEST BOUNTIFUL -- The Davis County Attorney's Office is expected to decide this week if charges will be filed against three West Bountiful police officers accused of stealing property from their department's evidence room.

County Attorney Mel Wilson said Monday the criminal probe is essentially completed and now the case comes under review by prosecutors.

Wilson, who declined to elaborate about the nature of the property stolen or the identities of the officers, said the allegations of theft surfaced some time ago due to information provided by a former West Bountiful employee.

The criminal probe, conducted by his office and investigators with the Davis County Sheriff's Office, began in earnest two weeks ago.

Wilson said it was his understanding that two of the officers have resigned and another remains on administrative leave pending a determination in the investigation.

"The unfortunate part of this is that it has pretty well emasculated their department," Wilson said.

West Bountiful has seven officers, including Police Chief Quinn Lewis, who could not be reached for comment Monday.

HEADLINE: Highlights of Los Angeles police corruption scandal

BYLINE: By The Associated Press

- August 1998: Officer Rafael Perez arrested for allegedly stealing eight pounds of cocaine from police evidence locker. Seeking lighter sentence, he alleges that anti-gang officers in Rampart area beat, framed and even shot innocent suspects.

- Sept. 8, 1999: Perez pleads guilty to theft and is expected to be sentenced to five years in prison under a plea bargain. Sentencing date repeatedly postponed.

- Sept. 15, 1999: Eleven Rampart officers suspended with pay.

- Sept. 16, 1999: Javier Francisco Ovando, shot and paralyzed by police in 1996, is freed after two years in prison. Authorities say he was framed for assault. Immigration authorities agree not to deport the illegal immigrant to Honduras. Later in the month, lawyers for his 2-year-old daughter file a $20 million negligence claim against the city.

- Sept. 19, 1999: City and county suspend enforcement of two gang injunctions in Rampart area because of questions about validity of police testimony.

- Sept. 21, 1999: Judge suspends injunction because of questions about police testimony.

- Sept. 22, 1999 - Police Chief Bernard C. Parks announces formation of board of inquiry and promises to get to bottom of scandal.

- Sept. 23, 1999: At a Police Academy graduation ceremony, Parks warns new recruits to stay honest, telling them their only legacy is "credibility and integrity."

- Sept. 28, 1999: Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti agrees to resurrect a "roll-out" unit assigned to aggressively investigate police shootings. The team was eliminated during 1996 budget crunch.

- Oct. 1, 1999: City attorney's office drops weapons possession charges against a man because Perez was key witness in the case.

- Oct. 5, 1999: Parks says several officers subpoenaed to testify before grand jury investigating corruption.

- Nov. 10, 1999: Man who spent 1 1/2 years in prison for selling cocaine is freed after tainted conviction overturned.

- Nov. 17, 1999: Man who spent two years in prison on drug charges ordered freed because he allegedly framed by Perez and another officer.

- Nov. 23, 1999: Family of gang member killed in 1996 police shooting files federal civil rights lawsuit.

- Dec. 6, 1999: Decorated Vietnam veteran files federal lawsuit claiming Perez planted drug evidence in 1992 that led to his conviction and a five-year prison sentence.

- Dec. 15, 1999: Police corruption may have tainted as many as 3,000 criminal cases, the district attorney and public defender say.

- Dec. 18, 1999: Federal lawsuit seeking more than $100 million from city and county alleges a man sentenced to prison for a 1996 murder was framed by police, including one officer named in the police scandal.

- Nov. 30, 1999: Judge overturns three convictions because of alleged misconduct, for total of 10. One man ordered freed from prison after nearly three years.

- Jan. 12, 2000: A woman who claims Perez and another officer beat, robbed and threatened her with death in 1997 files federal civil rights lawsuit.

- Jan. 14, 2000: Police confirm they asked the district attorney's office to file criminal charges against three officers. Reports say four more relieved of duty, for total of 20.

- Jan. 25, 2000: Judge dismisses 10 drugs and weapons convictions, bringing the total to 22. One defendant freed from prison after serving three years.

- Jan. 26, 2000: Parks says corruption has tainted at least 57 criminal cases involving 99 defendants.

- Feb. 2, 2000: Parks, in private estimate to the City Council, says it will cost $125 million to settle lawsuits brought by misconduct victims.

- Feb. 8, 2000: Parks submits "integrity package" to civilian Police Commission. It contains $9 million worth of reforms and would require lie detector tests for officer candidates, increased Internal Affairs staffing and sting operations to root out bad cops.

- Feb. 16, 2000: In public review of his investigation, Parks says four of 12 officers involved in scandal never should have been hired. He blames part of problem on shortage of supervisors and command staff.

- Feb. 17, 2000: Mayor Richard Riordan recommends city give up 25 years worth of tobacco settlement money to raise about $100 million in bond money to pay off anticipated lawsuit judgments. Judge agrees to throw out nine more convictions, for total of 40.

- Feb. 21, 2000: A police disciplinary panel recommends Capt. Richard Meraz be suspended for 20 days for failing to disclose everything he learned in aftermath of an alleged beating at Rampart station. Los Angeles Police Protective League announces it is sponsoring a review of the Police Department's probe.

- Feb. 22, 2000: City Council declines to call for immediate independent investigation, referring motion to its Public Safety Committee.

- Feb. 23, 2000: FBI joins police investigation; state Attorney General Bill Lockyer announces expanded monitoring of probe.

HEADLINE: LAPD whistleblower gets 5 years

Perez got his sentence cut in half for turning against fellow officers.  Breaking down often in court, Perez offered no excuses for his part in a series of beatings, shootings and framings of alleged gang members, saying many times that he was sorry, especially for eroding the public trust in the L.A.P.D.

Perez said he had crossed the line between right and wrong, and often did the wrong thing for the right reason, apparently a reference to planting evidence and lying on the stand in order to get convictions against hard-core gang members who happened to be innocent of the particular crime they were on trial for.

Perez's revelations have led so far to the dismissal of some 40 criminal cases that were tainted by his allegations and the release of several people from prison or jail. Some 20 officers have been suspended and another 50 are under investigation. The FBI has been brought into the investigation and the city could have to pay up to $200 million to people who were wrongfully convicted.

Perez said he wanted to warn young police recruits to avoid the temptation to abuse the power that Perez said he became intoxicated with, telling them if they ever considered crossing the line to remember what has happened to him.

Perez said that, beyond the exoneration of innocent people, that what he wants most now is "to remind the greenest rookie cops that they too have this power. If used wrongfully, at the most, they can plant a defendant's feet firmly on the path to the death house. At the least, they'll leave a landscape of broken lives in their wake."

Perez was given credit for more than two years he's spent in jail since being arrested for stealing about eight pounds of cocaine from an evidence room at police headquarters and with good behavior, could be out of prison in a year and a half. The L.A.P.D. had been looking at Perez and others in the Rampart Division CRASH (anti-gang) unit and when he was arrested, prosecutors offered him a deal if he would inform on fellow officers.

Under his deal, he cannot be prosecuted for any crimes he's admitted to, but the District Attorney's Office said he could be prosecuted for crimes the investigation turns up that weren't part of the deal.

Perez's revelations include cases in which gang members were killed, beaten up or wounded, and then prosecuted for crimes the officers made up. Weapons and drugs were planted and officers lied on the witness stand.

"He who chases monsters must see he doesn't become a monster himself," Perez said.