Pubdate: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 2000 The Orange County Register Contact: P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711 Fax: (714) 565-3657 Website: http://www.ocregister.com/ Section: News,page 4 Author: Linda Deutsch-The Associated Press INDEPENDENT PROBE OF L.A. POLICE ANNOUNCED CRIME: Twenty Four Experts Are Named To The Rampart Independent Review Panel. LOS ANGELES- In the wake of a massive scandal in which officers are alleged to have framed innocent people, the city Police Commission on Wednesday named an independent panel to investigate the department and make recommendations. "The citizens of Los Angeles have rightly sought an independent body to investigate the corruption within the police department," said Gerald L. Chaleff, president of the Police Commission. The Rampart Independent Review Panel, 24 experts including attorneys, professors, management consultants and veterans of the Christopher Commission probe of the Los Angeles Police Department, plans to issue its recommendations in the fall. About two dozen Rampart station officers have quit, been fired or been relieved of duty amid allegations that an anti-gang unit framed, beat and shot innocent people. Fifty criminal cases involving arrests by Rampart officers have already been dismissed, and District Attorney Gil Garcetti said Wednesday he will seek the dismissal of 10 more today. The appointment of the new panel by the Police Commission, the civilian body that sets department policy, was immediately criticized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. The ACLU not truly independent and it must release its report directly to the public to be trusted. The model for the new panel will be the Christopher Commission, which investigated allegations of brutality and racism in the LAPD stemming from the Rodney King beating. Richard Drooyan, former chief assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles and deputy general counsel for the Christopher Commission, and Jeffrey Eglash, inspector general of the LAPD, will oversee eight work groups that will probe specific areas of concern. "There are no limits on what this group can do," said Drooyan, who will also be general counsel to the task force. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson