CITY ATTORNEY OKS LAPD LIE DETECTORS.

Byline: Rick Orlov and Dominic Berbeo Staff Writers

In the midst of the worst police scandal in Los Angeles history, City Attorney James Hahn issued a legal opinion Thursday that the city can use lie detectors to question police applicants.

``Not only do I think requiring all sworn police applicants to undergo polygraph tests is legally defensible, but I believe it should be put into practice as soon as possible,'' Hahn said.

``The city has a compelling interest in selecting men and women of ability, integrity and mature judgment to be police officers.''

Hahn said he was basing his opinion on two recent court rulings regarding testing of employees and job applicants.

The issue arose as one of the 108 reforms recommended in the LAPD Board of Inquiry report on the Rampart Division scandal.

Police Chief Bernard Parks has supported use of polygraph tests in the hiring process, said Cmdr. David Kalish, a department spokesman.

``We firmly believe polygraphs are an effective tool in the selection process,'' Kalish said, adding that many other agencies already use the test for hiring.

He said the test would help root out past drug use and involvement in criminal activity like domestic violence.

A 1989 report found that nearly half the finalists seeking to become LAPD officers were rejected because of past drug use.

Police Protective League President Ted Hunt said the union that represents most of the department's 9,000 sworn officers also supports the tests.

``Los Angeles police officers want people on the job who have the highest integrity,'' Hunt said. ``We won't tolerate a dirty cop.''

Hunt said he was given a polygraph test when he became an officer in 1976, but the department stopped using the tests years ago.