In February 2023, Los Angeles City Council members Tim McOsker and Hugo Soto-Martinez put forward a proposal to update the police discipline process. The proposal aimed to give the chief of police the authority to dismiss officers and make changes to the Board of Rights, which is the three-member appeals panel that handles serious discipline cases. This idea came about as a response to a previous council’s decision in 2017, which had weakened police accountability under the guise of strengthening it.
Fast forward to more than a year later, and the council is still struggling to finalize the details of the ballot measure before the deadline to get it on the Nov. 5 ballot. Despite having over 16 months to plan and discuss the details, the City Council has procrastinated on this important issue, putting police accountability at risk once again. The delay in starting the process meant that the deadline for the ballot was looming by the time the details were being reviewed in committee and the council instructed the city attorney’s office to draft the language for the new measure.
Tensions rose on Friday as McOsker, LAPD representatives, and city attorney’s office members debated in the council’s rules committee over whether the draft language accurately represented the council’s intentions and if it would truly enhance police accountability for serious misconduct. Questions were raised about why the Board of Police Commissioners, who are responsible for setting department policy, had not been consulted on the new discipline proposals. Some members even questioned why the council couldn’t revert to the pre-2017 police discipline system as permitted by the previous ballot measure.
Council President Paul Krekorian explained that the lengthy process was aimed at finding a balance between the due process rights of employees and the chief’s authority to act swiftly in serious situations. However, the residents of Los Angeles deserve to know if the upcoming police discipline ballot measure has been thoroughly considered and is more transparent and beneficial for the city compared to the previous Charter Amendment C.
As the council members prepare to decide whether to place the new measure on the ballot, they must reflect on these critical points. It is essential that all important parties have the opportunity to provide input on such a significant issue before a decision is made. The ultimate goal should be to ensure that the new measure is well-thought-out, transparent, and truly serves the best interests of the city and its residents. The council’s actions will shape the future of police accountability in Los Angeles, and it is crucial that they proceed with diligence and transparency in this matter.