L.A.P.D.’s CRASH Unit

C = Community

R = Resources

A = Against

S = Street

H = Hoodlums
Developed in the early 1970’s by LAPD Chief Daryl Gates to
combat the large increasing gang problem.
CRASH - History

LAPD gave wide latitude to CRASH to aggressively fight
the growing gang problems in the city.

Gang Crimes plummeted in Rampart and city wide violence
declined.

All 18 divisions of the LAPD had a drop in crime. Ramparts
was a huge drop!!
CRASH Success

The “Success” of CRASH came at a great price

Rampart CRASH officers developed an independent
subculture that the “war on gangs” mentality was where the
“ends justified the means”
CRASH Officer Problems

CRASH officers resisted supervisors and their
control

CRASH officers ignored Departmental Policies &
Procedures and Rules & Regulations.

LAPD department managers ignored warning
signs and failed to provide leadership, oversight,
management and supervision to control this very
specialized unit.
Downfall of the
Rampart Division
Between 1997 & 1998, four separate criminal incidents, all having
ties to LAPD officers as well as Rampart CRASH officers,
caused the LAPD to focus on and investigate the Rampart
Division and Rampart CRASH.
~ Rampart ~
The Beginning of the End
1.
Road Rage Shootout between officers
2.
A Bank Robbery committed by a LA police
3.
Excessive Force incident
4.
Theft of narcotics from an LAPD evidence locker
Rampart Incident #1

Road Rage Shootout 03-18-97

Off Duty LAPD officer Kevin Gaines who was
African American was shot and killed by an on
duty white LAPD officer Frank Lyga.
Rampart Incident #1

Road Rage Shootout 03-18-97

Off Duty LAPD officer Kevin Gaines who was
African American was shot and killed by an on
duty white LAPD officer Frank Lyga.

The shooting was ruled totally justifiable.
Rampart Incident #1

Road Rage Shootout 03-18-97

Off Duty LAPD officer Kevin Gaines who was
African American was shot and killed by an on
duty white LAPD officer Frank Lyga.

The shooting was ruled totally justifiable.

Gaines was found to be a “Blood” gang member
Rampart Incident #1

Road Rage Shootout 03-18-97

Off Duty LAPD officer Kevin Gaines who was
African American was shot and killed by an on
duty white LAPD officer Frank Lyga.

The shooting was ruled totally justifiable.

Gaines was found to be a “Blood” gang member

It was later speculated that Officer Rafael “Ray”
Perez may have stolen the cocaine booked by
Officer Lyga in retaliation for the shooting of Kevin
Gaines to get Lyga into trouble.
Rampart Incident #2

Bank of America Bank Robbery 11-06-97

LAPD Officer David Mack was ultimately convicted of
this bank robbery which netted $722,000. He never
revealed who else assisted him in the robbery.
Rampart Incident #2

Bank of America Bank Robbery 11-06-97


LAPD Officer David Mack was ultimately convicted of
this bank robbery which netted $722,000. He never
revealed who else assisted him in the robbery.
It is suspected that Officer Rafael Perez was a possible
suspect.
Rampart Incident #2

Bank of America Bank Robbery 11-06-97



LAPD Officer David Mack was ultimately convicted of
this bank robbery which netted $722,000. He never
revealed who else assisted him in the robbery.
It is suspected that Officer Rafael Perez was a possible
suspect.
LA “Bloods” gang member
Rampart Incident #2

Bank of America Bank Robbery 11-06-97




LAPD Officer David Mack was ultimately convicted of
this bank robbery which netted $722,000. He never
revealed who else assisted him in the robbery.
It is suspected that Officer Rafael Perez was a possible
suspect.
LA “Bloods” gang member
Perez, Mack and a friend went to Las Vegas after the
robbery and spent the weekend gambling and spending
thousands of dollars.
Rampart Incident #2

Bank of America Bank Robbery 11-06-97





LAPD Officer David Mack was ultimately convicted of
this bank robbery which netted $722,000. He never
revealed who else assisted him in the robbery.
It is suspected that Officer Rafael Perez was a possible
suspect.
LA “Bloods” gang member
Perez, Mack and a friend went to Las Vegas after the
robbery and spent the weekend gambling and spending
thousands of dollars.
Mack was sentenced to 14 years in a Federal prison. He
was released in 2010. The monies were never recovered.
Rampart Incident #3

Rampart Station House Beating 02-26-98

Rampart CRASH Officer Brian Hewitt was found to
have beaten & choked a handcuffed a gang member
until he vomited blood, while inside the Rampart police
station.
Rampart Incident #3

Rampart Station House Beating 02-26-98

Rampart CRASH Officer Brian Hewitt was found to
have beaten & choked a handcuffed a gang member
until he vomited blood, while inside the Rampart police
station.

He needed immediate hospital attention at which time
he revealed his being tortured by LAPD.
Rampart Incident #4

Missing Cocaine 03-27-98

LAPD property/evidence room discovered that six (6) pounds of
cocaine was missing. $800k value…!!!
Rampart Incident #4

Missing Cocaine 03-27-98

LAPD property/evidence room discovered that six (6) pounds of
cocaine was missing. $800k value

Within one week, detectives focused their investigation on
CRASH officer Rafael Perez.
Rampart Incident #4

Missing Cocaine 03-27-98

LAPD property/evidence room discovered that six (6) pounds of
cocaine was missing. $800k value

Within one week, detectives focused their investigation on
CRASH officer Rafael Perez.

It was later learned that Perez was stealing and/or re-cutting the
stolen drugs and reselling them for a major profit.
Rampart CRASH Task
Force

These incidents led to the creation of the Rampart CRASH
Task Force – May 1998
CRASH Unit Investigated

Rampart CRASH Officer Rafael Perez arrested for
possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.
CRASH Unit Investigated

Rampart CRASH Officer Rafael Perez arrested for
possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.

Jury deadlocked….
CRASH Unit Investigated

Rampart CRASH Officer Rafael Perez arrested for
possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.

Jury deadlocked

Officer Perez charged with other incidents of drug
“transfers”…..
CRASH Unit Investigated

Rampart CRASH Officer Rafael Perez arrested for
possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.

Jury deadlocked

Officer Perez charged with other incidents of drug
“transfers”.

Officer Perez cuts a plea deal and tells of many LAPD
Rampart illegal acts…
Rampart Illegal Acts

Officer Perez advised internal affairs investigators of many
LAPD wrongdoings

Most notorious was the shooting of an unarmed gang member
Javier Ovando. Perez and his partner planted a drop gun and
charged him with attempted murder of a police officer. He was
convicted to 23 years.
Rampart Illegal Acts

Officer Perez advised internal affairs investigators of many
LAPD wrongdoings


Most notorious was the shooting of an unarmed gang member
Javier Ovando. Perez and his partner planted a drop gun and
charged him with attempted murder of a police officer. He was
convicted to 23 years.
Perez implicated at least 70 officers accusing them of misconduct
from drinking beer on the job to bad totally unjustified shootings.
Rampart Summary

May 2001
Rampart Summary

May 2001

58 officers were finally brought before the Administrative
Board
 12 of them were suspended
 7 of them resigned
 5 of them were terminated
Rampart Summary

May 2001

58 officers were finally brought before the Administrative
Board
 12 of them were suspended
 7 of them resigned
 5 of them were terminated

Over 100 criminal convictions were overturned
Rampart Summary

May 2001

58 officers were finally brought before the Administrative
Board
 12 of them were suspended
 7 of them resigned
 5 of them were terminated

Over 100 criminal convictions were overturned

Millions of $$ settlements were offered by the city of Los
Angeles including $15 million to Javier Ovando – who was
shot and falsely accused by Officer Rafael Perez.
Rampart Summary

May 2001

58 officers were finally brought before the Administrative
Board
 12 of them were suspended
 7 of them resigned
 5 of them were terminated

Over 100 criminal convictions were overturned

Millions of $$ settlements were offered by the city of Los
Angeles including $15 million to Javier Ovando – who was
shot and falsely accused by Officer Rafael Perez

Under Federal Mandate and Federal Consent Decree
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:

Unprovoked shootings
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:


Unprovoked shootings
Unprovoked beatings
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:



Unprovoked shootings
Unprovoked beatings
Planting of evidence
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:




Unprovoked shootings
Unprovoked beatings
Planting of evidence
Framing of suspects
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:





Unprovoked shootings
Unprovoked beatings
Planting of evidence
Framing of suspects
Stealing & dealing narcotics
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:






Unprovoked shootings
Unprovoked beatings
Planting of evidence
Framing of suspects
Stealing & dealing narcotics
Bank robbery
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:







Unprovoked shootings
Unprovoked beatings
Planting of evidence
Framing of suspects
Stealing & dealing narcotics
Bank robbery
Perjury
Rampart Allegations

Convicted Offenses included:








Unprovoked shootings
Unprovoked beatings
Planting of evidence
Framing of suspects
Stealing & dealing narcotics
Bank robbery
Perjury
Covering up these and many more crimes….
Rampart Investigation
Suspicions

Officers Perez, his partner Nino Durden and David Mack are
alleged to responsible for the death of rapper The Notorious
B.I.G. – aka Biggie Smalls.
Rampart Investigation
Suspicions

Officers Perez, his partner Nino Durden and David Mack are
alleged to responsible for the death of rapper The Notorious
B.I.G. – aka Biggie Smalls.

FACT: All officers were active members of the L.A. “Bloods”
street gang and they were also associated with “Death Row
Records” & owner “Suge” Knight….
Questions

Were the officers of the CRASH unit a product of the police
department environment?
Questions

Were the officers of the CRASH unit a product of the police
department environment?

Was this scandal a result of:

Lack of Supervision?
Questions

Were the officers of the CRASH unit a product of the police
department environment?

Was this scandal a result of:


Lack of Supervision?
Poor Recruiting?
Questions

Were the officers of the CRASH unit a product of the police
department environment?

Was this scandal a result of:



Lack of Supervision?
Poor Recruiting?
Poor Hiring?
Questions

Were the officers of the CRASH unit a product of the police
department environment?

Was this scandal a result of:




Lack of Supervision?
Poor Recruiting?
Poor Hiring?
Organizational Culture indifferent to citizens needs?
Questions

Were the officers of the CRASH unit a product of the police
department environment?

Was this scandal a result of:





Lack of Supervision?
Poor Recruiting?
Poor Hiring?
Organizational Culture indifferent to citizens needs?
Combination of these things?
Questions

Was a tolerant attitude of supervisors and command officers
to blame?
Questions

Was a tolerant attitude of supervisors and command officers
to blame?

What could have been done to prevent this from happening?
Questions

Was a tolerant attitude of supervisors and command officers
to blame?

What could have been done to prevent this from happening?

Is this situation done in LAPD and is the department in
good standing today?
Questions

Was a tolerant attitude of supervisors and command officers
to blame?

What could have been done to prevent this from happening?

Is this situation done in LAPD and is the department in
good standing today?

If so, why?

If not, why?
Final Essay

Answer all of the following questions:






How has terrorism impacted the police mission in the U.S.? What
disagreements exist regarding the appropriate law enforcement behavior which
fights terrorism but maintains personal liberties?
What role does social stigma play in police ethics? Give specific examples from
your reading or your experiences where social stigma played a role in either
furthering police corruption or reducing it.
Are the ethical forces behind police corruption the same as those involved in
police abuses of force? Support your answer.
Discuss individual conscience and police assignments using specific examples.
How can training prepare would be police officers for the ethical dilemmas they
will face?
The paper will be a minimum of 5 double-spaced pages.
Get any late/past due papers/assignments in ASAP!!
Unhealthy Culture???
The Boiling Frog Syndrome
Who is Right??

“There should be no such thing as a crooked cop. You’re either
a crook, or you’re a cop.” ~ Frank Serpico 1971
Who is Right??

“There should be no such thing as a crooked cop. You’re either
a crook, or you’re a cop.” ~ Frank Serpico 1971

“Crooked cop? A cop today who’s a ‘goody two shoes’ is
called a ‘Serpico.” ~ Convicted ex-police officer, Michael
Dowd told Barbara Walters that, 25 years after Serpico’s trials
and tribulations…. (1986)
Per Frank Serpico - NYPD
“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in
which an honest police officer can act without fear or
ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers. We must create an
atmosphere in which the dishonest officer fears the honest
one and not the other way around.
~ Knapp Commission Hearing - 1971
Per Frank Serpico - NYPD
“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which an
honest police officer can act without fear or ridicule or reprisal
from fellow officers. We must create an atmosphere in which
the dishonest officer fears the honest one and not the other
way around.
I hope that this investigation and any future ones will deal
with corruption at all levels within the department and
not limit themselves to cases involving individual
patrolmen.
~ Knapp Commission Hearing - 1971
Per Frank Serpico - NYPD
“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which an honest
police officer can act without fear or ridicule or reprisal from fellow
officers. We must create an atmosphere in which the dishonest
officer fears the honest one and not the other way around.
I hope that this investigation and any future ones will deal with
corruption at all levels within the department and not limit
themselves to cases involving individual patrolmen.
Police corruption cannot exist unless it is at least tolerated at
higher levels in the department.
~ Knapp Commission Hearing - 1971
Per Frank Serpico - NYPD
“The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which an honest
police officer can act without fear or ridicule or reprisal from fellow
officers. We must create an atmosphere in which the dishonest
officer fears the honest one and not the other way around.
I hope that this investigation and any future ones will deal with
corruption at all levels within the department and not limit
themselves to cases involving individual patrolmen.
Police corruption cannot exist unless it is at least tolerated at
higher levels in the department.
Therefore, the most important result that can come from these
hearings is a conviction by police officers, even more than the
public, that the department will change.”
~ Knapp Commission Hearing - 1971
Last Class ~ Goodbye ~ Good Luck

This is our last class together - Good Luck!!

Thank you all for being such a great class!

Thank you for working so hard! I appreciate all your efforts.

Congratulations to those graduating soon and keep on doing
it – don’t stop!!

I hope you enjoyed the class and the subject matter of Police
Ethics!!

Keep in touch – always nice to know how you are doing

Remember to keep you own Personal Ethical Compass
pointing North. Stay ethical. Don’t give up!!

Please - Don’t throw ALL officers into the same pot!