DAMAGES BACKED IN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION CASE.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

During the 1980s, the LAPD's Special Investigations Section emerged from the shadows to the glare of questions about its practice of following suspected career criminals.

In some cases, suspects were not arrested until after they committed additional crimes in view of SIS officers.

One controversial encounter involved a fatal shooting inside a McDonald's restaurant.

Ironically, on Tuesday, the same day as the shooting in Northridge, the Police Commission and a City Council panel both recommended that the city pay $10,000 in punitive damages awarded by a jury against five Special Investigation Section officers for the shooting death of a robbery suspect at a Sunland McDonald's.

Senior Assistant City Attorney Don Vincent said the jury award against the officers and former Chief Daryl F. Gates will be paid by the city under the settlement that still must be approved by the City Council.

The council's Budget and Finance Committee joined the commission in recommending the payment be approved.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a girl who was born four days after her father was shot to death by the LAPD's elite Special Investigations Section, which had a group of robbery suspects under surveillance.

Police Commission President Ray Fisher said in a statement that the commission ``supports the department in its quick response to this incident,'' but will watch the department's investigation closely.

``However, we have full confidence in the ability of the department to conduct a thorough investigation,'' Fisher said.

Regarding the bystander who was shot, Fisher said, ``We regret the unfortunate and tragic wounding of Mr. Grover Smith and express our deep and continuing concern for Mr. Smith and his family.''

Chief Willie L. Williams said the unit has a code calling for ``reverence for human life'' that was followed in the decision to stop the suspects in the cul-de-sac to ``minimize injuries to the public.''

``The shooting involving Mr. Smith is being investigated based on the officers observations. It will be determined whether the shooting was appropriate,'' Williams said.