Los Angeles, CA. According to Hank Hernandez, chief legal counsel of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), the City of Los Angeles entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the police union four years ago. And now the City is attempting to change the agreement that was negotiated in good faith. Hernandez says the Police Commission's vote to require gang and narcotic officers to disclose their personal finances is "unacceptable."
The FULL DISCLOSURE NETWORK® presents an exclusive eleven minute Video News Blog featuring Hernandez, a former LAPD Lt. who has served for over 20 years as the legal counsel to the Los Angeles police union. He describes the Federal Consent Decree as the reason the Police Commission voted to require financial disclosure. Among the disclosure requirements for gang and narcotic officers, to be implemented within ten days of the vote are:
- List of assets, investments and liabilities, even if jointly owned.
- Proof of bank accounts and mortgages with statements.
- Individual financial disclosures to be reviewed and questioned.
- Positions could be denied based upon the review.
Hernandez also describes how the LAPPL is advising the officers whether or not to comply and suggests the perils when an employer requires employees to turn over their personal information.
Viewers are asked to participate in an online opinion survey and to post their comments for discussion. Here are the survey questions:
- Elected officials don't have personal financial disclosure requirements. Should police officers?
- Do you think the financial disclosure requirement will deter quality officers from working gang or narcotics units?
- Or do you think the Federal Consent Decree has gone too far?
Known as "the news behind the news" Full Disclosure Network® cable television programs are featured on 45 cable systems and the Internet since 1992 and produced by host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston. In 2002 the Full Disclosure® special series "L. A.'s War Against Terrorism" was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a local Emmy Award for a public affairs, informational series. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website at www.fulldisclosure.net.
Comments to date: 37. This is page 1 of 4.
jay la/oc CA
Posted: 02:57 pm [PST] on April 30 2008
this is unfair and potentailly dangerous to LAPD officers.
LAPD upper brass and the City council should be ashamed to instatute this policy. The Officers of LAPD do not have the backing they need and deserve from their department. Only IF a specific incident warrents looking into finances of specific officers should this even take place.
My condolances to the downfall of LAPD and their morale.
Mike Richards
Posted: 06:05 pm [PST] on April 27 2008
NO WAY!!
r. dennison long beach
Posted: 11:00 am [PST] on April 21 2008
LAPD....dont cave to the consent decree....leave the gang and narco jobs and go back to patrol...then see your mayor sing the blues
Chris Venice
Posted: 09:35 am [PST] on April 13 2008
As a former neighborhood council member there was a time where the city Attorney wanted us to disclose our finances for possible conflict of interest. We resisted and ultimately prevailed.
As for your question No. 2, it already has caused excellent gang officers to transfer to other units and back on patrol. What a waste of talent!
And yes, the Federal Consent Decree has gone way too far and it's time to remove it. At this time the legislators, judges, attorneys, and ACLU have painted such a broad brush, they may soon wind up having to protect themselves. Less and less people are willing are willing to put up with their insanely draconian rules for a mediocre salary...just look at how hard LAPD is finding it to recruit new police and how many long experienced police personnel are retiring. Can you blame them?
EdgarFriendly Location unknown
Posted: 01:31 pm [PST] on April 03 2008
Oh Jennifer, you make a blanket statement that the entire organization is corrupt. Would you care to cite any specific examples (other than the Rampart thing...)? And I'm not talking about something that you heard from your mom's friend's brother's sister-in-law's babysitter's boyfriend...
jennifer lynn caldwell san gabriel
Posted: 12:18 am [PST] on April 02 2008
of course they should have full disclosure, a corrupt organization like that needs to be monitored 24/7
Terry Monasmith Wichita, Kansas
Posted: 07:53 am [PST] on April 01 2008
This is an example of an out of control government. These Police Officers are just trying to do a very difficult job.
EdgarFriendly Location unknown
Posted: 10:08 am [PST] on March 24 2008
Mark661...the gang and narco officers are being punished in large numbers for the actions many years ago of a very, very small number of officers. The financial disclosure thing is unnecessary, an invasion of the privacy of not only the officers, but of their families. The Department is a shining example of "give them an inch and they'll take a mile" mentality. No one has the stones to stand up to the Feds & Judge Fees and tell them "ENOUGH". Also, if they keep finding more of these arbitrary and petty requirements to attempt to enforce, the Feds & Judge Fees keep getting paid big bucks by the City. Who wins? Who loses? The City is already seeing a huge upswing in homicides so far this year....do you want to sit back and see how far it goes?
Edgar Friendly Location unknown
Posted: 10:06 am [PST] on March 24 2008
The Department needs to tell Judge Fees and the rest of them to go pound sand.
Sandra Sabedra Whittier CA
Posted: 11:21 am [PST] on March 22 2008
Only if they have good evidence that there is a problem should they investigate any financial information. This information is none of the LAPD's business.More Big Brother that is all this is.