FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TO GUIDE SHERIFF'S INTERNAL INQUIRIES.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

federal civil rights prosecutor Michael Gennaco signed a three-year contract Friday, taking the job of chief attorney of the Sheriff's Department's newly established Office of Independent Review.

Gennaco, who will start work June 4, said the office will be a ``work in progress.''

'm comfortable we will come up with a way that makes the disciplinary system fair, objective, timely and thorough,'' he said. ``... I think I'll be able to work within the department to put together a holistic approach to issues involving police misconduct.''

Sheriff Lee Baca made the announcement Friday even though District Attorney Steve Cooley said he and the sheriff had not reached a final agreement on how the office would be run.

Cooley said he supports the concept of a review board but is worried the panel of civil rights attorneys would interfere with his office's criminal investigations of sheriff's personnel. His objections delayed the public unveiling.

Cooley and Baca met this week to discuss the proposal, and Cooley said they have yet to reach a final agreement.

Baca said Cooley is working on a specific policy, but he believes they ``have a clear understanding.''

``The Office of Independent Review will welcome any involvement the district attorney deems as appropriate,'' Baca said.

The sheriff said he is pleased that someone of Gennaco's caliber and ability stepped forward to run the office.

Gennaco, who will be paid $200,000 a year, was selected by a panel chaired by County Counsel Lloyd Pellman from a list of 14 finalists culled from 134 applications. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted in closed session Tuesday to select Gennaco.

Gennaco, an assistant U.S. attorney and chief of the civil rights office in Los Angeles, has been responsible since 1994 for federal enforcement and criminal prosecution of civil rights violations, including coordination and oversight of cases involving allegations of police misconduct.

A graduate of Stanford Law School, he was the first federal prosecutor exclusively assigned to police misconduct and other federal civil rights cases.

As chief attorney, Gennaco's duties will include assisting in starting and developing a variety of internal investigations.

Gennaco's office will also monitor and review investigations, as well as make recommendations to Baca on the disposition and discipline in those cases.

He will pick and oversee a staff of five other attorneys for the office, pending the county supervisors' approval.