CITY OKS DEVIN BROWN PAYOUT $1.5 MILLION TO MOTHER OF 13-YEAR-OLD SHOT BY LAPD.

Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer

The Los Angeles City Council approved $9.25 million in city liability payments Wednesday, including $1.5 million in the controversial 2005 shooting death of a 13-year-old suspected of stealing a car.

The settlement with the family of Devin Brown caps a case that had stirred racial and political tensions across South Los Angeles last spring after Los Angeles Police Department officers chased and killed a boy who was driving a stolen Toyota Camry.

Officers said they feared for their lives when the car began backing up and Officer Steven Garcia fired into the car, but ensuing inquiries found the shooting violated department policy and the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

While the council voted 12-2 to approve the settlement, Councilmen Dennis Zine and Greig Smith -- both of whom are reserve officers -- said they did not believe the city should make the payment.

``This was investigated by the district attorney, by the FBI and by everyone else and they found the officers had acted properly,'' Zine said.

``It looks to me like we are rewarding the mother, who I think was irresponsible. She let a 13-year-old out late at night, maybe he was drunk. Maybe he was on marijuana. It's a tragedy any time someone that young loses their life, but I don't think the city should be responsible,'' he said.

After the incident, changes were made to department policy on officers firing into moving vehicles and how the LAPD releases information about officer-involved shootings.

But Smith echoed Zine's views.

``It looks to me like we are rewarding someone for being a bad mother,'' Smith said. ``I disagree with what the Police Commission did on this and I think it just set us up for this payment.''

Council President Eric Garcetti said the council believed it could face even higher costs if the family's wrongful death lawsuit went to trial.

Brian Dunn, the attorney for Brown's mother, Evelyn Davis, said he was not surprised at the harsh comments made about his client.

``That's politics talking and precisely what motivated her to file this lawsuit,'' Dunn said. ``She did all she could as a single mother to protect her son. ... I wish they could walk a mile in her shoes before they say something like that.''

Dunn said he was not completely satisfied with the settlement but Davis wants to put the issue behind her.

The council also approved a $6.25 million payment for an accident involving Arthur Lisechko, who suffered brain damage when his car was struck by an unmarked police car on July 23, 2003. Officials said the money will cover the cost of his care and medical treatment.

Another payment of $1.5 million went to the family of Christopher Justin Oliver in connection with an off-duty officer who fired into a car, killing the driver and damaging 10 other cars.

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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