LAPD OFFICERS' BIAS LAWSUIT TOSSED BY JUDGE.

Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH

Staff Writer

Former Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Michael Berkow prevailed Tuesday in the first of several lawsuits filed against him, charging discrimination and illegal actions while he led the LAPD's Professional Standards Bureau.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge threw out a discrimination case filed by five African-American and Latino officers who said Berkow removed each of them from a prestigious Internal Affairs assignment without explanation or proper procedure when he reorganized the division.

The judge said the officers could not show discrimination or that their careers suffered by being moved to other assignments.

Attorneys for the city said the judge's decision shows the LAPD made a reasonable redeployment of its officers.

"We were confident in our case and are pleased with the ruling," City Attorney spokesman Jonathan Diamond said.

Berkow, who was brought into the LAPD by Chief William Bratton to rein in officer misconduct, left the department last year to become the chief of police in Savannah, Ga.

Two other lawsuits are still pending.

In one case, Ya-May Christle has sued the LAPD for sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation after she said Berkow helped promote women in the Internal Affairs Division with whom he allegedly had sexual relationships.

Berkow admitted to having a three-year sexual relationship with an LAPD sergeant in his division who was later promoted, but said the affair did not affect their professional relationship.

The LAPD's Consent Decree Bureau is conducting an investigation into misconduct by Berkow.

In another case, the union that represents rank-and-file LAPD officers sued Berkow, alleging he ordered police investigators to search the desks of 35 detectives in the robbery-homicide division without a warrant.

Berkow directed the search after allegations that the department withheld evidence in the Biggie Smalls case, in which the rapper's family claims a rogue LAPD officer set up his slaying.

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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