(CBS)
LOS ANGELES Los Angeles police brass will meet Friday with union
representatives to discuss a plan to prohibit off-duty officers from
working as private investigators.
Under
the proposed plan, the Los Angeles Police Department would ban officers
from moonlighting as private investigators or having a financial stake
in detective agencies.
"We understand that it is important
that the meet and confer process does take place so that, hopefully, we
have a concurrence with the Police Protective League and take action
within a reasonable amount of time,” Police Commission President John
Mack said.
A review of state records by the Los Angeles Times
last month found dozens of licensees on the LAPD payroll, probably more
than 100, but Cmdr. Kenneth Garner, head of the personnel group, said
only 16 officers and one civilian employee were licensed as private
investigators.
"The good news it's only a small number of officers, so its not 100 officers, 200 officers," Garner told the Police Commission.
Garner
said the LAPD will likely allow officers to transition out of their
private investigative work. The time line still needs to be discussed
with the union representing about 9,300 rank-and-file officers.
In
February, former LAPD Detective Mark Arneson was indicted on charges of
illegally using law enforcement databases to dig up dirt on people for
former celebrity private eye Anthony Pellicano. Arneson allegedly made
at least $189,000 from his work for Pellicano.
Arneson, who did not have an LAPD work permit, was suspended in 2003 and left the department.
Bob Baker, president of the police union, said the LAPD was overreacting.
"The
reason that police officers work as licensed P.I.'s is because of their
training and skill sets, and not because of any kind of special
access," Baker said. "They are trained to understand human behavior and
to find and analyze data, data that is available on public databases."
If
the proposed ban is approved, LAPD computer systems would be upgraded
to monitor the type of research an officer conducts. Supervisors would
then compare the information with an officer's caseload.
Officers
are required to get work permits from their supervisors to work
off-duty jobs. The process is being revised so that the department has
more specific information about what officers are doing to earn extra
income while off-duty.
Most officers work compressed weekly
schedules, three 12-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts, that give them
three or four days off.