LAPD Free from Consent Decree

Last Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department got out from under eight years of federal oversight. Judge Gary Feess ended a consent decree imposed after the Rampart scandal in 2001, in which officers were accused of tampering with evidence, abusing suspects and lying under oath about their misconduct. Former defense attorney Gerald Chaleff helped negotiate the decree as President of the LA Police Commission. Chief Bill Bratton later appointed Chaleff his deputy to carry out the promised reforms.