Pubdate: Tue, 25 Jan 2000
Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Tribune
Contact:  P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112
Fax: 805.781.7905
Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/
Author: Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Prosecutors will ask a judge to reverse 10 cases thought
compromised by misconduct within the Police Department's Rampart Division,
authorities said Tuesday.

The move will nearly double the number of cases overturned as a result of
the ongoing police corruption probe.

The scandal, the worst for LAPD in decades, has centered on an anti-gang
unit at Rampart. Twenty officers have either resigned, been relieved of
duty, suspended without pay or fired since the scandal surfaced in September.

Four prison inmates already have been freed and 11 convictions overturned.

The district attorney's office will seek reversal of nine more convictions,
all originating at Rampart, said Sandi Gibbons, a district attorney's
spokeswoman.

The majority of those cases were from 1997 and involved defendants either
pleading guilty or no contest to weapons or drug charges, Gibbons said. One
of those convicted is currently in custody on a parole violation.
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