Pubdate: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA) Copyright: 1999, The Bakersfield Californian. Contact: PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440 Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/ Author: Tom Verdin, Associated Press Writer AUTHORITIES REVIEWING 3,000 CASES IN POLICE CORRUPTION PROBE LOS ANGELES (AP) - Far more than previously estimated, as many as 3,000 criminal cases are under review in a police corruption probe that already has freed four defendants from state prison, the county public defender's office said Wednesday. The office has received case files for 10 of the 12 officers who have been relieved of duty in the scandal. The estimate of 3,000 cases represents the number those officers handled during the past 10 years, Assistant Public Defender Robert Kalunian said. "All 3,000 cases are not going to be reopened," he said. "We are going to examine them." Kalunian said the office is seeking files on the other two officers and cases for any additional Los Angeles Police Department officers under investigation by the district attorney's office. "We don't know how big this is going to be," he said. District Attorney Gil Garcetti wouldn't confirm the public defender's estimate of the number of cases under review. Instead, he said his office is investigating "hundreds" that might involve police misconduct. The number of convictions based on false testimony, planted evidence and other corrupt actions by police originally was put at 500. Garcetti said the probe already has grown beyond what anyone anticipated and is the largest problem he has encountered in his 31 years as a prosecutor. "There has never been as important a case as this case," he said during a brief meeting with reporters Wednesday. "It goes to the very heart of the criminal justice system." Garcetti said his investigation is focusing on getting innocent people out of prison, purging the Police Department of bad officers and prosecuting officers who have violated their oaths to uphold the law. None of the 12 officers relieved of duty has been charged. Garcetti said he is trying to develop evidence that will lead to indictments. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D