Mayor Richard Riordan proposed using the city's tobacco settlement money to cover liability. But last month the City Council rejected his idea and voted to set up a reserve fund, which remains empty as the mayor tries to reconcile it with his budget proposal. The appointment of the new panel by the Police Commission, the civilian body that sets department policy, was criticized by the ACLU of Southern California. The ACLU said the panel was not truly independent and it must release its report directly to the public to be trusted. The model for the new panel will be the Christopher Commission, which investigated allegations of brutality and racism in the LAPD stemming from the Rodney King beating.
All members are volunteers serving without compensation.
Richard Drooyan, former chief assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles and deputy general counsel for the Christopher Commission, and Jeffrey Eglash, inspector general of the LAPD, will oversee eight work groups that will probe specific areas of concern. Reporters questioned the small representation of minorities on the predominantly white male panel.