The Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart division is home to dozens of corrupt officers. The officers are committing crimes like stealing and selling cocaine in the streets, framing people and giving false reports. Rafael Perez is the officer at the center of it all and his arrest has a domino effect that implicates dozens of cops.
On March 18, 1997 Frank Lyga, an undercover narcotics officer in Hollywood, is on a stakeout and when it’s called off he heads back to the station. On his way he encounters a black man in a truck playing loud rap music at a red light. Lyga looks over and the driver stares him down. Lyga rolls down his window and asks, “Can I help you?” according to Lyga the driver makes a threatening gesture and replies with “Ain’t nobody looking at you, punk.” Lyga thinks the black man is a gangster based on appearance and when the guy supposedly shouts out “Punk, I’ll put a cap in your ass.” Lyga claims he accepts a challenge by the driver to pull over and have it out except Lyga quickly takes off. The driver catches up with him and the Lyga calls for back up. He witnesses the driver reach over for what he believes is a gun. Lyga fires twice and strikes the driver. The driver pulls into a gas station. The driver, Kevin Gaines, dies.
TIMELINE:
1988 David Mack from Compton joins the L.A.P.D.
1989 Rafael Perez joins the L.A.P.D
March 18, 1997 Uncover L.A.P.D. cop Frank Lyga (white) shoots and kills off-duty L.A.P.D. officer Kevin Gaines (black)
November 6, 1997 Robbers steal $772k from a B of A branch. An assistant manager and her boyfriend, L.A.P.D. officer David Mack, are behind it
February 26, 1998 L.A.P.D. Officer Brian Hewitt beats 18th street gang member Ismael Jimenez during questioning
March 27, 1998 6 lbs of cocaine missing from L.A.P.D. property room; CRASH unit officer Raphael Perez is the target of investigation
May, 1998 L.A.P.D. Police Chief Bernard Parks establishes internal task force (later named the RAMPART CORRUPTION TASK FORCE)
August 25, 1998 Rafael Perez is stopped and arrested
December 1998 Perez goes to trial charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, grand theft and forgery
September 8, 1999 Rafael Perez cuts a deal with prosecutors, recants his 1996 testimony against Javier Ovando, a gang member he framed, shot and paralyzed
September 16, 1999 Ovando is released from prison after serving 2 ½ years
September 21, 1999 Police Chief Bernard Parks forms a Board of Inquiry to look into the Dept’s failings and to evaluate the depth of the scandal
March 3, 2000 Police Chief Parks disbands CRASH units and starts a new system where officers will be thoroughly vetted before being assigned
April 2000 Police form an independent review panel comprised of citizens including attorneys, educators, and business executives. In November 2000 the report results in 72 findings and 86 recommendations. It concludes that officers need better and more supervision; that the department compromises criminal investigations of officer-involved shootings and major use-of-force incidents; and that the community view the L.A.P.D. as excessively hostile and confrontational
July 28, 2000 Perez’ partner, Nino Durden, is arrested and charged for attempted murder in the Ovando case and perjury, false police reports and robbery
September 19, 2000 The L.A. City council votes to have a judge to oversee the reforms at the L.A.P.D. over the next 5 years
September 26, 2000 Former detective Russell Poole files a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and Chief Parks claiming a cover-up of corruption within the Dept. He resigns after 18 years
October 4, 2000 First criminal case stemming from Perez’s allegations. Sgt. Edward Ortiz, Brian Liddy, Michael Buchanan and Paul Harper are tried on charges of perjury, fabricating arrests and filing false police reports
November 15, 2000 Ortiz, Liddy and Buchanan were convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and filing false reports. Harper was acquitted
November 21, 2000 Javier Ovando is awarded $15 million plus 29 other civil suits settle for nearly $11 million
December 22, 2000 Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Connor overturns of the convictions of Rampart CRASH cops Ortiz, Liddy and Buchanan. Judge Connor deems the verdict unfair after jurors reveal they determined guilt based on a issue not entered in trial
March 30, 2001 Perez’ partner Nino Durden cuts a deal and pleads guilty to 10 state and federal charges: fabricating evidence, false arrest, false testimony
Source: The Newyorker