EDITORIAL COMING CLEAN LAPD TO RESUME ANTI-TERRORISM AUDITS.

SINCE 1997, the Los Angeles Police Department has failed to conduct mandatory audits to make sure that its anti-terrorism powers are used for legitimate purposes - and not inappropriate spying. The potential for abuse has many rightfully worried, and at last the department seems to be taking corrective action.

The LAPD inspector general has announced that it will start performing audits again early next year, and the audits will be reviewed by representatives of the Police Commission.

Assuming that all involved deliver on their promises, this is good news. Up until the early 1980s, the LAPD used its spying powers to keep dossiers on prominent individuals and organizations, often for political blackmail purposes. Civilian oversight is critical to ensure those sorts of abuses don't re-occur.