SHOULD COPS DISCLOSE PERSONAL FINANCES? Internet Video News Blog (11 min)

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:

1. Elected officials don't have personal financial disclosure requirements. Should police officers?
2. Do you think the financial disclosure requirement will deter quality officers from working gang or narcotics units?
3. 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 http://www.fulldisclosure.net/.

News Directors Views Sought On Bratton Coverage & Mac Arthur Park: Cable TV Series Sunday/Monday

The Full Disclosure Network® (FDN) is seeking to interview all the Southern California News Directors on the Media coverage on the reappointment of Chief William Bratton and the “May Day Melee” in Mac Arthur Park . This suggestion was first prompted during a Full Disclosure cable TV series to be featured this week end on:

L.A. Cable Channel 36

Sunday (10-21-07) 8-9 p.m

Monday (10-22-07) 4-5 p.m

Click here for other channels & airtimes (45 cable systems)

Southern California News Directors have been sent personal invitations, along with a seven minute DVD video preview of a two-part Full Disclosure® cable television series where a prominent news industry leader suggested that the News Directors would be a valuable resource to provide information how the media is covering the story.

Donald Zachary who serves as Director and Legal counsel for the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNA) appeared in the FDN two-part series suggested that Full Disclosure Network® contact the individual News Directors to gain their perspective on the media coverage of the incident and subsequent events. Also appearing in the series is former media personality Xavier Hermosillo, who served as a long-time LAPD disciplinary hearing officer and who is highly critical of the current LAPD Chief's first five year term. Watch a seven minute preview of the series here.

Full Disclosure® is seeking answers to the following questions from the News Directors:

• Should the public and the media question the Police Commission's decision to unanimously reappoint Chief Bratton to a second five year term, in the middle the internal investigation?
• Should the media have questioned Bratton's performance evaluation more extensively?
• Did any media report what happened to the FBI Investigation of the police misconduct in MacArthur Park?
• Was the final report on Mac Arthur Park delayed? Why?
• Did the news organizations press the LAPD for release of the Final Report?
• Does political control of the police department jeopardize media access to information and ability to cover events?
• Will there be live media coverage of Chief Bratton being sworn into office by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for a second five-year term on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at the LAPD Police Academy?

The full two-part Full Disclosure Network® series will be aired on L.A. Cable Channel 36 from 8-9 p.m. this Sunday and repeat on Monday from 4-5 p.m. and will be shown on 45 cable systems throughout California over the next several weeks.

Police Reformers Politicized the LAPD: Cable & Internet T.V. Series

The Full Disclosure Network® is featuring a two-part series on the impact of police reformers on the Los Angeles Police Department following the Rodney King riots in 1992. The programs are to be shown on 45 cable systems and the Internet:

L. A. CABLE CHANNEL 36
Oct. 14th Sunday 8-9 p.m.
Oct 15th Monday 4-5 p.m.

Or Click on the links below

Watch Here: PART 1 AND PART 2 (28:30 min ea) Check Other Channels & Airtimes

LAPD Chief William Bratton:

On December 27, 2002 the newly appointed Chief told Full Disclosure® Host Leslie Dutton that Los Angeles is considered a Democratic (Party) stronghold and that is why then Mayor James Hahn had hired a lobbyist to represent the City on matters before the Republican Administration of President George Bush.

LAPD Captain Kenneth Hillman (ret):

In this two-part series Hillman describes a small group of partisan police reformers as Democrats, who transformed the Los Angeles Police Department into the politicized organization that it is today. Hillman said, "they own it" referring to political leaders and the ACLU who now have complete control of the LAPD and are responsible for the direction of the Department. Full Disclosure® interviewed Captain Ken Hillman in April 2005. Having served as a Director of the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) prior to Bratton's appointment he had a first row seat during the selection of Chief Bratton.

Here are a few observations made by Hillman in this two part series:

• LAPD policy changes every time a new Chief is selected, because under City Charter Reform Proposition “F”
• The Mayor now has complete control over removal of the Chief of Police.
• He explains why the Police Union became so powerful following the Rodney King Riots
• Describes the reforms brought on by the Christopher Commission
• Points to the Charter Amendment Proposition “F” in 1992 that changed the Chief's position from a Civil Service postition to a political appointment.
• The police union became powerful out of self-preservation and need to protect officers rights.
• The Mayor who now controls the appointments of Police Commissioners and the Chief.
• The role of the Police Union in electing the Mayor
• The promises the Mayor made to get the Union endorsement
• The 3 day work week (12 hour days) for officers once the Mayor was elected
  

Over the past fifteen years Full Disclosure® programs have been billed as “the news behind the news” and are featured on 45 cable systems and the Internet at http://www.fulldisclosure.net/. The programs are produced by Emmy Award winning Host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston and sponsored by the Citizens Protection Alliance, a non-profit, educational organization.

Since 1992 the Full Disclosure® programs have explored police policies, politics, corruption and reform, interviewing all the LAPD Chiefs from Ed Davis to William Bratton as well as the Southern California County Sheriffs and most U.S. Attorneys General and Special Prosecutors involved in Presidential investigations. In 2002 the program was presented with a public affairs EMMY Award for the series “L. A.’s War Against Terrorism” featuring LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, Sheriff Leroy Baca, LAPPL Director Ken Hillman and Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Sunday On Cable TV: LAPD Chief Bratton on Guns, Shootings, Homeless & Police Policy (Internet Video Preview 8 min)

Los Angeles, CA. September 1, 2007 The Full Disclosure Network® is re-releasing a two-part hour-long interview with LAPD Chief William Bratton, covering controversial issues and providing surprising predictions to be featured on:

L.A. Cable Channel 36
Sunday, September 2nd 8-9 p.m.
Monday, September 3rd, 4-5 p.m.

A free eight minute video preview is available for viewing "On Demand" 24/7 (click here to watch) this public service of the Full Disclosure Network®. In addition the Bratton interview is being featured on 45 other cable systems. The no-holds-barred interview is conducted by Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and reveals his most candid and remarkable response to troublesome issues that have been plaguing the LAPD for years. Here are just a few short quotes from Chief Bratton:

• Homeless Policy in L.A. :............ "It's a national disgrace"
• Ongoing Federal Consent Decree Costs: ........."Nobody really knows"
• Special Order 40: .........."LAPD officers cannot ask people if they are here legally "
• Politicizing the LAPD: "If the Mayor says we are to meet (certain) demands, is that politics?"
• Police Commission overruling the Department on Devon Brown shooting: ...... "So be it"
• Is Police Commission process on Officer involved shootings fair?: ..... "It is what it is".
• Does he worry about officer morale when shootings are determined out-of policy? ..... "No I don't"
• Issuing Concealed Weapon Permits (CCWs):...... "I am a strong gun control advocate"

Chief Bratton told Full Disclosure® even though after five years the Federal Consent Decree was supposed to go away if the LAPD was in compliance, much of the mandated operations would become a permanent part of the department's operations. Four years ago, on Full Disclosure® he predicted the cost of the Federal Consent Decree could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars for a five year period. In this new interview he says that it should be looked upon as an investment.

The Chief also comments on qualifications of the (Mayor appointed) Police Commissioners who have the power to overrule his recommendations, such as on the Devon Brown shooting and when the Department's "Use of Force Board" found it to be "in policy". Bratton explained that Police Commissioners who sit in judgment on officer involved shootings and "use of force" incidents, are not required to have knowledge or experience in police operations, that they make a good faith decision.

Since 1992 many of the Full Disclosure Network® cable television programs have focused on law enforcement policy at the local, state and national level. All LAPD Chiefs from Ed Davis to Chief Bratton have appeared on the program. Other law enforcement officials featured include L.A. County District Attorneys Steve Cooley and Gil Garcetti, L. A. County and Orange County Sheriffs and most of the former U. S. Attorneys General, Special and Independent Presidential Prosecutors,

The Full Disclosure® program is produced by Leslie Dutton and T. J. Johnston and sponsored by the Citizens Protection Alliance, a non-profit, educational organization. In 2002 the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented host Dutton with a local Emmy for the public affairs series featuring Los Angeles law enforcement and city officials, entitled " L.A.'s War Against Terrorism". Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.

INVESTIGATION CLOUDS BRATTON REAPPOINTMENT: Watch Video (8 min)

Los Angeles, CA. -- A former TV and Radio personality who also served as a LAPD Disciplinary Hearing Officer, alleges the Police Commission is participating in a “cover up” of responsibility for the police beatings that occurred in Mac Arthur Park during the immigrant rally on May Day. FULL DISCLOSURE NETWORK® presents an eight minute Video News Blog featuring Xavier Hermosillo's remarks and in sharp contrast the comments from LAPD Police Commission President John Mack and former Police Commission President Edith Perez. The video is available for viewing on the Internet 24/7, on demand as a public service.

Here are a few highlights from the Video News Blog:

• Xavier Hermosillo, maintains the Commission used a much different process to evaluate former Chief Bernard Parks than they did with Bill Bratton and they did so out of the public eye.
• John Mack, current President of the Police Commission praises Bratton as “a man of the 21st Century”.
• Edith Perez: Former President of the Commission describes the thorough evaluation process used when considering Chief Willie Williams for re-appointment.
• Police Shootings & Beatings: Hermosillo points out major incidents that happened on Bratton’s watch, citing the Devon Brown shooting, Susie Pena shooting and the Stanley Miller flashlight beating.
• Xavier Hermosillo says that Bratton is blaming others for what should be his responsibility, citing his own phone call to NYPD where he claims they verified one hundred flashlight beating incidents in New York, while Bratton was Chief.
• Corruption, in the City of Los Angeles, is what Hermosillo says has led to the current situation and he blames Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who has the ultimate responsibility for appointing a Chief.

VIEWERS MAY PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE SURVEY BY CASTING THEIR VOTES ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

• Do you think the Los Angeles Police Commission merely rubberstamped Bratton’s reappointment because Mayor Villaraigosa wanted Bratton to remain as chief?
• Do you agree that Bill Bratton should serve another five year term as Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department?
• Do you think it was proper to reappoint Chief Bratton while the May 1st “May Day Melee” is still under investigation?
• Why do you think the Los Angeles media has become silent after suffering abuse at the hands of the LAPD

REBUTTALS ENCOURAGED: Viewers are invited to participate by posting their comments in the section below on the video page. Known as “the news behind the news” Full Disclosure Network® cable television programs are featured on 43 cable systems and the Internet since 1992. 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 http://www.fulldisclosure.net/.

SHERIFF BACA & THE ACLU….PARTNERS IN JAIL REFORM? (Video Preview 4 min)

Los Angeles, CA: The unique court ordered partnership between the ACLU and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is revealed in a four minute Internet video preview from a special Full Disclosure Network® series of interviews addressing the Los Angeles County jail crisis. Sheriff Leroy Baca describes the cause of the current jail overcrowding, citing the 1975 ACLU lawsuit (Rutherford vs Block). Also featured are ACLU’s Legal Director Mark Rosenbaum, Jail Project Director Mary Tiedeman and LASD Captain Tim Cornell, of the Inmate Reception Center.

In the preview Baca tells FDN host Leslie Dutton that “The jail overcrowded problem, as you may know, stems from court decrees…. we were capped at about 18,000 prisoners, based on this Rutherford decision.” The preview is available FREE to Internet viewers and the entire series is soon to be featured on 43 cable TV systems. Eventually the full length interviews will be available 24/7, on demand, to those who subscribe to the Full Disclosure Network® website program service.

Some of the highlights featuring the ACLU and L.A. County Sheriff’s Department are:

• Captain Tim Cornell describes the LASD partnership with the ACLU, including some of the difficulties encountered when the ACLU monitors distribute complaint forms to inmates who in turn provide false information. He describes the ACLU’s temporary restraining order on jail overcrowding and how it impacted operations and the daily task of moving inmates from jails to courthouses for their hearings.
• Mary Tiedeman, jail project director is asked to describe how the inmates react to the monitoring and relates some of the most common problems associated with the complaints forms they file on behalf of the inmates. She also defines the “partnership” with Sheriff’s Department and her good working relationship with the Sheriffs Deputies who respond quickly to her requests to assist inmates in distress.
• Mark Rosenbaum, ACLU legal director describes the “partnership” with the Sheriffs Department and discusses how he wants to avoid any contempt proceedings against the LASD and that any back-up of operations that may have occurred, due to the ACLU temporary restraining order, should and could have been avoided and why.
• Inmate Riots, jail disturbances on video are featured in the FDN preview and series, to demonstrate the circumstances that exist from time to time and explanations for the cause are provided.
• Explicit details of the numerous problems encountered by both the ACLU monitors and the L.A. County Sheriffs Department are provided in depth.

Billed as "the news behind the news" the Full Disclosure Network® is an independent, educational, public affairs cable program. In 2002 host Leslie Dutton was presented with a local public affairs Emmy Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the series entitled "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism". Channels and airtimes. For the past fifteen years FDN has covered critical public policy issues, in-depth, that are often ignored by the mainstream media.

CIVILIAN POLICE MONITOR: MERRICK BOBB ON THE RECORD Internet Video Preview (4 min)

Los Angeles, CA: What qualifications does it take to become the civilian police monitor for the largest county in the nation? In a newly released two-part interview, on the Full Disclosure Network® (FDN), UC Berkeley educated attorney Merrick Bobb, reveals his background on how he got the job as the civilian monitor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He describes how he develops recommendations on strategic police tactics and jail operations while under contract to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and responds to a critical report prepared by the Sheriffs Deputy’s union.

Viewers are invited to watch a FREE four-minute preview of this two-part interview with Bobb, conducted by host Leslie Dutton and now available online, 24/7, on demand, as a public service. Also featured in the interview and preview is Roy Burns, former President of ALADS, the Association of L.A. Deputy Sheriffs. The full interview is featured on 43 cable TV systems and eventually available online to FDN subscribers.

Highlights of the full interview are:

Part I: Background & Foot Pursuits

Segment #1
Merrick Bobb describes in detail how he became interested in law enforcement policy and tactics following the Rodney King incident when he served as a Deputy Legal Counsel on the Christopher Commission to reform the LAPD.

Segment #2
Bobb describes how he developed the LASD policy to ban solo foot pursuits by Deputies chasing fleeing suspects and expresses the concerns that motivated him alone to initiate this policy recommendation.

Segment #3
He fields criticism leveled at him by the ALADS (Sheriffs Deputy’s Union). He details his recommendations on when, how and why Sheriffs Deputies should call for back up. This segment features Roy Burns, former LASD Detective who was instrumental in organizing a scathing rebuttal to Merrick Bobb’s Report to the Board of Supervisors on the solo foot pursuit ban.

Part II: Methodology & Jail Operations

Segment #1
As the civilian monitor Bobb describes his goals and methods used to develop recommendations while not having a law enforcement background or training. He points out his experience on the COLTS Commission as having been important. And he describes the values and traits found in most law enforcement officers as being important considerations for the motivation behind their actions.

Segment #2 In this segment Bobb explains the purpose of JAIL and the difference between county jails and state prisons and the role of jailers. He comments on the strikingly different jail operations in Maricopa County and condemns conditions that would make inmates uncomfortable, citing rehabilitation as a goal and the Constitution prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment.

Segment #3 Finally, Bobb points out that there is one major reason why there are problems in jail operations. He carefully states that he does not fault the County Board of Supervisors for the problem. He addresses the early release of inmates versus the need to build more jails. And, defers to a “smarter and safer” approach to law enforcement over a “softer and gentler” one.

The Full Disclosure® program is billed as “the news behind the news”. Host Leslie Dutton has been conducting interviews with law enforcement officials regarding police politics and public policy since 1992, interviewing all the Chief's of Police from Ed Davis to William Bratton and most of the Police Commission Presidents and Los Angeles County Sheriffs Block and Baca. In 2002 Dutton was presented with a local public affairs Emmy Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the series "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism".

Police Reformers Control The LAPD: Online Video

Los Angeles, CA The Full Disclosure Network® presents two part exclusive intertview with retired LAPD Captain Ken Hillman about how the Los Angeles Police Department was politicized after the Rodney King incident and the 1992 L.A. Riots. Here is Part 1 of the Interview (28 min) and here is part 2 of the interview (28 min) both available FREE, 24/7, on demand as a public service. This 2005 interview is being re-released to provide background on the LAPD in light of the current controversy involving the May Day Immigrant demonstrations in MacArthur Park and who controls the LAPD.

Here are some of the highlights of the interview:

• POLICE REFORMERS POLITICIZE LAPD: Captain Hillman describes the circumstances following the resignation of LAPD Chief Daryl Gates when "police reformers" pushed Charter Amendments. The first reform was "Proposition "F" that provided for the Police Chief's position to become a political appointment giving the Mayor and his hand picked Police Commissioners the power to remove the Chief. A few years later Charter changes made the Deputy Chiefs political appointees as well.
• PARTISIANS OWN THE LAPD: According to Hillman, whose long career included leadership roles in both the Police Union, as member of the Board of Directors and Captain of the Pacific Division (Command). He describes how powerful partisans seized control of the LAPD. He explains that it was a small politically powerful group who were the masterminds who "reformed" the LAPD. "They own it", he says, the LAPD is now completely politicized. In part-one of the interview Hillman said "the LAPD Chief is now the Mayor's mouthpiece".
• POLICE UNION EMPOWERED Captain Hillman explains that when the (Civil Rights) partisans took control of the Department it also resulted in empowering the Los Angeles Police Protective League (police union). Hillman describes how the police union was mostly a social, golfing organization until they were threatened by the anti-law enforcement reformers. Prior to the take-over the police union had not played a signifigant role in City politics, but when they did there was an immediate need to protect the rights of officers if the face of the "so called" reforms. He now says the reformers, including the powerful ACLU partisians have complete control over the LAPD .
• POLICE UNION SUPPORTS MAYOR CAMPAIGN: On this part-two of the Full Disclosure® interview, Captain Hillman said the Police union made a deal with then-candidate Mayor James Hahn, to support his campaign in exchange for his approving the 3/12 work schedule for police officers. This was accomplished due to successful union organizing due to the threat of the anti-police reformers posed. He claims the police union was forced to become more aggressive to defend and protect the rights of officers.

Full Disclosure® host Leslie Dutton has been conducting interviews with law enforcement officials regarding police politics and public policy since 1992, interviewing all the Chief's of Police from Ed Davis to William Bratton and most of the Police Commission Presidents. In 2002 Dutton was presented with a local public affairs Emmy Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the series "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism".