The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) fought vigorously to prevent the onerous financial disclosure requirements imposed by the LAPD in their effort to implement the Consent Decree which, to date, has been upheld by Federal Judge Feess. Although the LAPPL is continuing its legal fight, the financial disclosure policy is now enforceable. You either sign or you don't work Gangs or Narcotics. The Department will either find people who will sign, or they will discontinue "specialized" gang and narcotics units (in favor of doing police work the old fashioned way?)

Why I have no intention of completing and signing the Financial Disclosure Form

While everyone has to make their own personal choice, I thought it might be helpful to tell you why I am not willing to complete the financial disclosure form.

1. Since the Consent Decree became effective, the LAPPL negotiated a number of acceptable proposals that balanced the intent of the financial disclosure requirement and protection of officers’ right to privacy.
2. In early 2006, a binding agreement between the City and the LAPPL was reached. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) also agreed to the terms of the proposal. The City and DOJ (the parties to the Consent Decree) subsequently filed a joint motion in federal court to modify the ORIGINAL consent decree document to incorporate the new financial disclosure language that had been agreed to by the City, Department of Justice, LAPD, and the LAPPL.
3. On March 22, 2006 Judge Feess denied the Joint motion to modify the Financial Disclosure
4. In March, 2007, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said, "...No other police department in the United States of America is required to fill out financial disclosures when they work with gangs at this level," Villaraigosa said. "I understand why our officers -- in a city where we haven't had corruption on a scale and scope that other cities have -- why they would be reticent to sign these financial disclosures."
5. In a December 20, 2008 editorial, the LA Times wrote, “It's hard to see how periodic financial reports would help LAPD brass nail corrupt cops. Officers already must submit to lie detector tests, and they now work in an environment in which stings are all but routine. Financial disclosure would do nothing to allow the public to monitor the kinds of corruption and excessive force that led to the Rampart scandal -- or the kind of management and training failures that produced this year's MacArthur Park fiasco.”

So, ladies and gentlemen, despite overwhelming agreement that THIS financial disclosure is unnecessary, intrusive, and unprecedented; a Federal Judge, NOT the people of Los Angeles or their leadership, demanded it. Sadly, Our Los Angeles leadership caved in to the judge’s whim and is now encouraging you to sign the financial disclosure form instead of fighting for what is right.

Ironic, isn’t it? Among the reasons we spent millions of dollars working under the terms of the Consent Decree was because the LAPD had too much power. Now a single federal judge threatens the safety and security of the citizens of this city because of his ivory tower, out-of-touch-with-reality arrogance!

I won’t sign because 1) I haven’t found anyone who thinks it is necessary to improve the Department, 2) I’ve spent my whole life and 25 years with the LAPD standing up to bullies … I won’t stop now, and 3) there are plenty of great positions within the LAPD where I can serve the citizens of Los Angeles proudly without compromising my privacy or my values.