LA Consent Decree -- Sections X and XI
X. COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
155. For the term of this Agreement, the Department shall conduct a Community
Outreach and Public Information program for each LAPD geographic area. The program shall
require the following:
a. at least one open meeting per quarter in each of the 18 geographic Areas
for the first year of the Agreement, and one meeting in each Area annually thereafter,
to inform the public about the provisions of this Agreement, and the various
methods of filing a complaint against an officer. At least one week before such
meetings the City shall publish notice of the meeting (i) in public areas; (ii)
in at least one newspaper covering the City of Los Angeles; (iii) in one
or more local community newspaper(s) that services the Area, taking into account
the diversity in language and ethnicity of the area's residents; (iv) on the
City and LAPD website; and (v) in the primary languages spoken by the communities
located in such area.
b. the open public meetings described above shall include presentations and
information on the LAPD and LAPD operations, which presentations and
information are designed to enhance interaction between officers and community
members in daily policing activities.
156. The LAPD shall prepare and publish on its website semiannual public reports
required by this paragraph. Such reports shall include aggregate statistics broken down by each
LAPD geographic area and for the Operations Headquarters Bureau, and broken down by the
race/ethnicity/national origin of the citizens involved, for arrests, information required to be
maintained pursuant to paragraphs 104 and 105, and uses of force. Such reports shall include a
brief description of each of the following that was completed during that period: (i) report of a
specified audit completed, audits completed pursuant to paragraphs 111, 113, 125, 126, 130, 133
and 134, and any significant actions taken as a result of such audits or reports, (ii) a summary of
all discipline imposed during the period reported by type of misconduct, broken down by type of
discipline, bureau and rank, and (iii) any new policies or changes in policies made by the
Department to address the requirements of this Agreement. Such reports shall also include the
reports prepared pursuant to paragraphs 173 and 175.
157. The LAPD shall continue to utilize community advisory groups in each
geographic Area and to meet quarterly with the community they serve. The Department shall
establish a media advisory working group to facilitate information dissemination to the
predominant ethnicities and cultures in Los Angeles.
XI. INDEPENDENT MONITOR
158. By March 1, 2001, the City and the DOJ shall together select an Independent
Monitor, acceptable to both, who shall monitor and report on the City's implementation of this
Agreement. The selection of the Monitor shall be pursuant to a method jointly established by the
DOJ and the City. If the DOJ and City are unable to agree on a Monitor or an alternative method
of selection, the DOJ and the City each shall submit two names of persons to the Court who shall
have the following attributes: (i) a reputation for integrity, evenhandedness, and independence;
(ii) experience as a law enforcement officer, expertise in law enforcement practices, or
experience as a law enforcement practices monitor; (iii) an absence of bias, including any
appearance of bias, for or against the DOJ, the City, the Department, or their officers or
employees; and (iv) no personal involvement, in the last eight years, whether paid or unpaid, with
a claim or lawsuit against the City or the Department or any of their officers, agents or
employees, unless waived by the parties. The DOJ and the City shall also submit to the Court the
resumes, cost proposals, and other relevant information for such persons demonstrating the above
qualifications, and the Court shall appoint the Monitor from among the names of qualified
persons so submitted; provided, however, that if the Court so selects the Monitor, then the
maximum sum to be paid the Monitor, including any additional persons he or she may associate
pursuant to paragraph 159 (excluding reasonable costs or fees associated with non-compliance or
breach of the Agreement by the City or the Department), shall not exceed $10 million, plus out-of-pocket costs for travel and incidentals, for the first five years after the effective date of this
Agreement.
159. The Monitor, at any time, may associate such additional persons or entities as are
reasonably necessary to perform the monitoring tasks specified by this Agreement. Any
additional persons or entities associated by the Monitor shall possess the following attributes: a
reputation for integrity, evenhandedness, and independence; an absence of bias, including any
appearance of bias, for or against the DOJ, the City, the Department, or their officers or
employees; and no personal involvement in the last five years, whether paid or unpaid, with a
claim or lawsuit against the City or the Department or any of their officers, agents or employees
unless waived by the parties, which waiver shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Monitor
shall notify in writing the DOJ and the City if and when such additional persons or entities are
selected for association by the Monitor. The notice shall identify the person or entity to be
associated and the monitoring task to be performed, and, if a waiver is being requested, the notice
shall indicate if the person had any such involvement in the last five years, whether paid or
unpaid, with a claim or lawsuit against the City or the Department or any of their officers, agents,
or employees. Either the DOJ or the City may notify in writing the Monitor within 10 days
(excluding weekends, and federal or state holidays) of any objection either may have to the
selection. If the parties and the Monitor are unable to resolve any such objection, and the
Monitor believes that the specific person or entity in question is needed to assist the Monitor and
such person or entity satisfies the qualifications and requirements in this paragraph, the Monitor
may seek Court authorization to hire such person. For purposes of all paragraphs of this
Agreement other than the preceding paragraph, the term Monitor shall include any and all
persons or entities that the Monitor associates to perform monitoring tasks and such persons shall
be subject to the same provisions applicable to the Monitor under this Agreement.
160. The City shall bear all reasonable fees and costs of the Monitor. The Court retains
the authority to resolve any dispute that may arise regarding the reasonableness of fees and costs
charged by the Monitor. In selecting the Monitor, DOJ and the City recognize the importance of
ensuring that the fees and costs borne by the City are reasonable, and accordingly fees and costs
shall be one factor considered in selecting the Monitor. In the event that any dispute arises
regarding the payment of the Monitor's fees and costs, the City, DOJ and the Monitor shall
attempt to resolve such dispute cooperatively prior to seeking the Court's assistance.
161. The Monitor shall be an agent of the Court and shall be subject to the supervision
and orders of this Court, consistent with this Agreement. The Monitor shall only have the duties,
responsibilities and authority conferred by this Agreement. The Monitor shall not, and is not
intended to, replace or take over the role and duties of the Mayor, City Council, Commission,
Chief of Police or the Inspector General. In order to monitor and report on the City's and the
Department's implementation of each substantive provision of this Agreement, the Monitor shall
conduct the reviews specified in paragraph 162 and such additional reviews as the Monitor
deems appropriate. At the request of the DOJ or the City, based on the Monitor's reviews, the
Monitor may make recommendations to the parties regarding measures necessary to ensure full
and timely implementation of this Agreement.
162. In order to monitor and report on the City and Department's implementation
of this Agreement, the Monitor shall, subject to paragraph 163 and paragraphs
165 through 171:
a. between six and twelve months following implementation of TEAMS II
and at least annually thereafter, conduct a review of the use of TEAMS II by the
LAPD, the Inspector General, and the Police Commission and its staff;
b. regularly review and evaluate the quality and timeliness of the specified
audits, sting audits, and audits conducted by LAPD or the Inspector General
under paragraphs 125, 126, 133, 134 , and 140; and
c. regularly review appropriate samples of (i) Categorical and Non-Categorical Use of Force investigations, adjudications and related disciplinary and
non-disciplinary actions; and (ii) Complaint Form 1.28 investigations,
adjudications and related disciplinary and non-disciplinary actions (focusing, in
particular, on those involving alleged uses of excessive force, false arrests or
improper stops, improper searches or seizures, discrimination or retaliation); and
motor vehicle and pedestrian stop data collected pursuant to paragraphs 104 and
105.
In performing its obligations under this Agreement, the Monitor shall, where appropriate, utilize
audits conducted by the City or Department for this purpose, and employ appropriate sampling
echniques.
163. The Monitor may review completed portions of administrative investigations and
resulting internal proceedings while they are pending, provided, however, that in such instances
the Monitor may review only those parts of such investigations and proceedings that have been
completed (such as the completed use of force report, completed Use of Force Review Board
proceedings, or completed Board of Rights proceedings). If the Monitor determines that any
administrative use of force or Complaint Form 1.28 investigation, which has been adjudicated or
otherwise disposed or completed, is inadequate under this Agreement, the Monitor shall confer
with the Commission, Chief of Police and the Inspector General, and provide a confidential
written evaluation to the Department, the Inspector General, and the DOJ containing the
additional measures that should be taken with respect to future investigations in order to satisfy
this Agreement. Such evaluation shall be for the purpose of assisting the Commission, the Chief
of Police and the Inspector General in conducting future investigations, and shall not obligate the
Department to reopen or re-adjudicate any investigation.
164. In monitoring the implementation of this Agreement, the Monitor shall maintain
regular contact with the City, the Commission, the Chief of Police, the Inspector General as well
as the DOJ.
165. The Monitor shall have full and direct access to: (a) all Department employees,
including the Inspector General, and all Department facilities (except facilities used solely for
ATD activities) that the Monitor reasonably deems necessary to carry out the duties assigned to
the Monitor by this Agreement; however, access to ATD personnel shall be for the sole purpose
of monitoring administrative investigations, including of complaints, involving such personnel;
and (b) within a reasonable time following notice to the City, or the Department (solely in the
case of individual Police Commissioners) all other City officers, employees and facilities, and the
individual Police Commissioners. The Monitor shall cooperate with the City and the Department
to access people and facilities in a reasonable manner that, consistent with the Monitor's
responsibilities, minimizes interference with daily operations.
166. The Monitor shall have full and direct access to all City and Department
documents, including TEAMS II data and information, that the Monitor reasonably deems
necessary to carry out the duties assigned to the Monitor by this Agreement, except as access is
limited in paragraphs 167, 168, 169, 170 and 171 or as to any such documents protected by the
attorney-client privilege. Should the City or the Department decline to provide the Monitor with
access to a document based on attorney-client privilege, the City shall provide the Monitor and
DOJ with a log describing the document.
167. The Monitor shall provide the City or Department with reasonable notice of a
request for copies of documents. Upon such request, the City and the Department shall provide
the Monitor with copies (electronic, where readily available, or hardcopy) of any documents that
the Monitor is entitled to access under this Agreement, including TEAMS II information and
data, except for Sensitive Data. The term "Sensitive Data" shall include confidential informant
files, personnel files, and other documents or data specifically designated as "Sensitive Data" in
this Agreement. The City shall cooperate with the Monitor to allow access to Sensitive Data for
review in a reasonable manner that is consistent with the Monitor's responsibilities and schedule.
The Monitor shall treat copies of TEAMS II information and data as "non-public information,"
as defined in paragraph 168(a).
168. All documents provided to the Monitor, whether by the City, Department, or
DOJ, shall be maintained in a confidential manner. Sensitive Data, and "non-public information" as defined in subpart (a) of this paragraph, whether obtained from the City, Department or DOJ, shall not be disclosed by the Monitor to any person or entity, other than (i)
to the DOJ, (ii) to the Court either under Seal or consistent with paragraphs 169, 170 or 173 or
(iii) as consistent with subpart (a) of this paragraph.
a. "Non-public information" means any information that is exempt from
public disclosure or inspection under the California Public Records Act and that
has not been released to a member of the public by the City or the Department or
any of their officers or employees, and for which the exemption has not otherwise
been waived by the City. Non-public information may be used in statistical
analysis, unit analysis or other analysis that does not identify particular individuals
and such analysis may be disclosed to the public solely as provided in paragraphs
173 and 174.
b. Other than as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall
not be deemed a waiver of any privilege or right the City or the Department may
assert, including those recognized at common law or created by statute, rule or
regulation, against any other person or entity with respect to the disclosure of any
document.
169. The Monitor shall have access to any City employee medical or BSS records only
under the following circumstances:
a. The Monitor shall have direct access to City employee medical or BSS
records, if permission for such access is granted by the applicable employee or
the information from such records is otherwise contained in investigative files.
b. For any other City employee medical or BSS records reasonably necessary
to carry out the duties assigned to the Monitor by this Agreement, the Monitor
shall notify in writing the DOJ and the City of the need for such documents, and
the City shall so notify the affected employee. Either the DOJ, the City, or the
affected employee may, and the City shall if requested by the affected employee,
notify in writing the Monitor within ten days (excluding weekends, and federal or
state holidays) of any objection they may have to such access. If the parties, the
Monitor, and, where applicable, the affected employee are unable to resolve any
such objection, and the Monitor continues to believe that the documents in
question are reasonably necessary to assist the Monitor, the Monitor may seek
Court authorization for access to such documents, subject to any appropriate
protective orders. The City shall assert applicable defenses and privileges from
disclosure and protections of such records for the City and the affected employee.
Any documents obtained by this procedure shall be treated as "Sensitive Data."
170. The Monitor shall have direct access to all documents in criminal investigation
files that have been closed by the LAPD. The Monitor shall also have direct access to all arrest
reports, warrants, and warrant applications whether or not contained in open criminal
investigation files; where practicable arrest reports, warrants and warrant applications shall be
obtained from sources other than open criminal investigation files.
a. The Monitor shall have access as Sensitive Data to documents prepared
for and contained solely in open criminal investigations of LAPD employees
reasonably necessary to monitor compliance with paragraph 67 (other than arrest
reports, warrants and warrant applications, which shall be subject to the general
access provisions). Except as provided in subpart (b) of this paragraph, the
Monitor shall not have access to any other documents in criminal investigations
files that have been open for less than ten months.
b. If the Monitor reasonably deems that access to documents contained
solely in either (i) open criminal investigation files, which investigations have
been open for more than ten months, or (ii) open criminal investigation files of
LAPD employees, which investigations have been open for less than ten months,
is necessary to carry out the duties assigned to the Monitor by this Agreement, the
Monitor shall notify in writing the DOJ and the City of the need for such
documents. After notification by the Monitor, either the DOJ or the City may
respond in writing to the Monitor within ten days (excluding weekends, and
federal or state holidays) if either have any objection to such access. If the parties
and the Monitor are unable to resolve any such objection, and the Monitor
continues to believe that the documents in question are reasonably necessary to
assist the Monitor, the Monitor may seek Court authorization for access to such
documents, subject to any appropriate protective orders. Any documents obtained
by this procedure shall be treated as "Sensitive Data."
171. The access provisions of the previous paragraphs do not apply to documents
contained solely in Anti-Terrorist Division ("ATD") files, or solely in intelligence
files or investigative notes files or similar files of joint task forces with
other law enforcement agencies.
172. The Department shall provide the Monitor with (i) copies of all reports of
specified audits, sting audits, audits or reports pursuant to paragraphs 88, 89 (including Police
Commission documentation), 111, 113, 125, 126,133, 134 and the Quarterly Audit Reports
required by paragraph 124, within ten days after receipt by the Commission, and (ii) copies of
the Annual Audit Plan, within ten days after approval by the Commission.
173. The Monitor shall file with the Court quarterly written, public reports detailing the
City's compliance with and implementation of each substantive provision of this Agreement.
These reports shall be written with due regard for the privacy interests of individual officers and
the interest of the City and the Department in protecting against disclosure of Sensitive Data and
non-public information. At least five days (excluding weekends and federal or state holidays)
before filing a report, the Monitor shall provide a copy of the draft to the parties for input as to
whether any factual errors were made or whether any Sensitive Data or non-public information is
disclosed. The Monitor shall consider the parties' responses and make appropriate changes, if
any, before issuing the report. The Monitor may testify in this case regarding any matter relating
to the implementation, enforcement or dissolution of this Agreement; provided, however, that
such testimony shall be given with due regard for the privacy interests of individual officers and
the interest of the City and the Department in protecting against disclosure of Sensitive Data and
non-public information. In the event that such testimony proffered by the DOJ may relate to
specific officers or other individuals or involve Sensitive Data or non-public information, the
DOJ shall provide reasonable notice.
174. Except as required or authorized by the terms of this Agreement, the
parties acting together, or by the Court: the Monitor shall not make any public
statements or issue findings with regard to any act or omission of the City,
or its agents, representatives, or employees; or disclose Sensitive Data or
non-public information provided to the Monitor pursuant to the Agreement. The
Monitor shall not testify in any other litigation or proceeding with regard
to any act or omission of the City, the Department, or any of their agents,
representatives, or employees related to this Agreement or regarding any matter
or subject that the Monitor may have received knowledge of as a result of his
or her performance under this Agreement. Unless such conflict is waived by the
parties, the Monitor shall not accept employment or provide consulting services
that would present a conflict of interest with the Monitor's responsibilities
under this Agreement, including being retained (on a paid or unpaid basis) by
any current or future litigant or claimant, or such litigant's or claimant's
attorney, in connection with a claim or suit against the City or its departments,
officers, agents or employees. The Monitor, as an agent of the Court, is not
a state or local agency, or an agent thereof, and accordingly the records maintained
by the Monitor shall not be deemed public records subject to public inspection
within the meaning of California Government Code Sec. 6250 et seq. The Monitor
shall not be liable for any claim, lawsuit, or demand arising out of the Monitor's
performance pursuant to this Agreement. Provided, however, that this paragraph
does not apply to any proceeding before this Court related to performance of
contracts or subcontracts for monitoring this Agreement.
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Updated July 25, 2008