Confidential LAPD misconduct files mistakenly posted on Internet

A clerical error is blamed for the disclosure, which violates the Police Commission's own privacy policy, and perhaps state law.

By Joel Rubin
February 7, 2009

"This was an unfortunate mistake," said Richard Tefank, executive director of the civilian oversight body. "The Police Commission will work with the Police Department to ensure that it does not happen again."

An electronic version of the report, which was disseminated to members of the news media in an e-mail and posted to the city's website, included the names of about 250 officers recently investigated by the LAPD's Internal Affairs Group over allegations that they used a person's race to justify a traffic or pedestrian stop.

The commission and department staff had reviewed a paper copy of the report that did not contain the confidential information and assumed the electronic version would be the same, Tefank said.

Delgadillo's office declined to comment on the possible legal consequences that the LAPD could face because of the privacy breach.

Word of the report sent the department and commission into damage-control mode. The website was taken down within an hour while representatives from the commission and Police Chief William J. Bratton's command staff called the president of the union that represents 9,500 rank-and-file officers to apologize.

The union has fought fiercely to keep officers' personal information private, saying its release could jeopardize their safety. Recently, the union has tried to block a new policy that requires some officers to disclose personal financial information, saying the LAPD cannot be trusted to keep the information safe.

"This is outrageous, absolutely outrageous," said Paul M. Weber, president of the Police Protective League. "It confirms our concern that the department cannot protect its own employees. This is confidential information."

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