2 RAMPART COPS SUSPENDED FAIL UNDERCOVER ``INTEGRITY TEST''.

Byline: JOSH KLEINBAUM Staff Writer

Two LAPD officers assigned to Rampart Division -- where a corruption scandal spawned a federal consent decree -- were suspended Friday after failing an integrity test, Chief William Bratton said.

Officer Edward Zamora, 44, a 16-year veteran, and his partner, whose name was not released, were assigned to their homes after failing an undercover ``audit'' of an arrest on Tuesday night.

The action culminated a six-month investigation of Zamora that was launched after a routine review of officers' activities and records, including arrest reports and personnel complaints.

``We ran a series of investigative stings at him," Bratton said at a news conference at the Rampart station.

``His activities did not rise to the level of a police officer. He was directed to a certain location to see if he behaved properly, and he did not behave as a police officer should.

``We believe there was criminal wrongdoing, and we made that recommendation to the District Attorney.''

Prosecutors are expected to decide next week whether to press charges.

Bratton refused to provide specifics, but said Zamora's partner was not a target of the investigation, and the department was still determining his involvement.

In 1992, Zamora was assigned as a patrol officer at Rampart -- which was at the center of a corruption scandal in the late 1990s in which members of the division's anti-gang unit were accused of brutality and misconduct.

As a result, the LAPD and the U.S. Justice Department entered into a consent decree in 2001, giving a federal judge oversight of the department. The judge is scheduled Monday to decide whether to extend the decree for at least two more years.

Officials have estimated the city will have to pay a total of about $70 million to settle lawsuits filed by those who claim they were framed, shot or beaten by Rampart police.

Bratton -- who has previously vowed to identify ``problem officers'' before misconduct occurs -- said he believes the Zamora investigation is an ``isolated incident.''

``The men and woman of this command have been doing a fabulous job,'' he said.

Since the consent degree was imposed in 2001, the LAPD has conducted 623 audits which have resulted in 66 ``administrative failures'' -- which could be as simple as an officer failing to take a complaint from a member of the public -- and 15 ``criminal failures,'' such as improperly handling evidence, falsifying reports, perjury and obstruction of justice.

Eight LAPD officers have been convicted of criminal charges, including one for stealing guns from the department, another for sexually battering victims of domestic violence and a third who demanded a $500 bribe to file a report.

``On one level, it's always sad when there's an allegation that an officer has tarnished the badge or crossed the line,'' Los Angeles Police Commissioner Alan Skobin said.

``On another level, there should be a comfort knowing that the vast major of men and women in department, and department's leadership, are not willing to sanction or tolerate any inappropriate conduct."

LAPD Police Protective League President Bob Baker would not comment on the case because it is a personnel matter, a spokeswoman said.

josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com

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