NPR: L.A. Police Union Fights New Financial Rules

[Omaha Steve]

by Mandalit del Barco

Listen Now at link.

All Things Considered, January 15, 2008 · As part of efforts to fight corruption, Los Angeles police officers who work in gang and narcotics units will soon be required to disclose private details of their personal finances. The move has infuriated hundreds of officers, who are threatening to leave if the policy does not.

A federal judge handed down the financial disclosure requirement in response to the Los Angeles Police Department's infamous "Rampart " scandal from the late 1990s, in which anti-gang unit officers in the city's Rampart division were found to have been planting evidence, framing and even shooting alleged gang members.

"These are officers who handle cash money, have contact with drug dealers, operators — and a lot of cash gets exchanged," says police commissioner John Mack, who chairs the civilian oversight committee that monitors the LAPD. "The thinking of the court was that it's important to determine if some officers may have some unexplained wealth."

Officers with salaries of $50,000 to $75,000 a year, who appeared to be living beyond their means, would be asked to reveal details about their bank accounts, mortgages and credit cards under the new plan.

FULL story at link.

[AX10]

1. Good.

Their finances should be tracked. That way, they will not be enticed to steal any money.
The drug war is a fraud. If we ended it, we would not have these problems.

[AX10]

2. kick