THE MADDENING police corruption scandal in Los Angeles is seemingly widening
by the minute, eroding the trust of all and giving credence to classes of
people who have long decried police procedure as arbitrary, vindictive and
vicious.
So far, 40 criminal convictions have been thrown out since it was first
disclosed last fall that Los Angeles police officers -- most of them
belonging to an elite gang suppression unit -- had abused their authority by
fabricating a variety of evidence. And at least a dozen more cases are
likely to be overturned because they too may be tainted or fake.
Investigators have found that the police often planted drugs or weapons on
suspects, lied in court and in some cases shot or beat suspects who were
unarmed and offering no resistance. About 20 officers have been fired or
suspended or have resigned because of the allegations, and the Los Angeles
district at torney's office believes even more dismissals are likely.