MAKING AN L.A. IMPACT UNIT FIGHTS TERROR, BUT DOES IT WIELD TOO MUCH POWER?

Byline: Gary Scott and Marshall Allen Staff Writers

When a Whittier man called local police last year to tell them he suspected his Middle Eastern neighbors might have terrorist ties, the department turned the case over to a Los Angeles-area narcotics squad.

Though the decision might appear unusual at first, the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force, better known as L.A. IMPACT, had recently expanded its mission.

Formed in 1991 to fight the burgeoning drug trade in L.A., the task force's executive council, reacting to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, decided it should undertake an added responsibility: homeland security.

Lacking the resources to check the man's claims, the Whittier Police Department called on L.A. IMPACT to investigate. Task force detectives, who specialize in undercover surveillance, eventually determined that nothing suspicious or illegal was going on and dropped the matter.

It was the first and only time the task force has exercised its counterterrorism duties, according to Jerry Hunter, director of L.A. IMPACT. Almost a year later, its role as homeland defender remains unclear.

``We are not claiming to be experts in terrorists,'' Hunter said. Task force detectives have undergone no special training, nor has L.A. IMPACT received any federal grants to fund the new initiative. Instead, Hunter said his detectives are acting more like foot soldiers in the war on terrorism, keeping their eyes and ears open for anything that they might pass on to a federal agency.

If a police department asks for help on a terrorism-related matter, L.A. IMPACT will answer the call, Hunter said. But if the threat appears credible, ``we pass it on to the experts,'' he said.

While the members of L.A. IMPACT seem to be downplaying their homeland security role, a resolution circulated last year among member cities has a more aggressive tone.

It says in part, ``L.A. IMPACT, as a separate and distinct mission ... shall cooperatively and jointly target, investigate and prosecute individuals who engaged in any activity relating to terrorism and criminal activity which threatens the public health, safety and welfare of citizens.''

A majority of the 33 member cities have adopted the resolution, thereby amending L.A. IMPACT's charter. However, some cities are still considering the resolution, which recently caught the attention of open-government activists.

``We are in the midst of a return to the McCarthy era,'' said Richard McKee, president of the California First Amendment Coalition. ``What we should have learned is that public oversight and control is essential.''

McKee said he is concerned that L.A. IMPACT operates outside the public's view, which is especially disconcerting considering its foray into counterterrorism. `` 'Are you now or have you even been a member of a Muslim organization?' - it's that kind of intelligence-gathering we have to watch out for,'' McKee said.

Operated by the police chiefs from its member cities, L.A. IMPACT's bimonthly meetings are not open to the public. It is also unclear if its written policies and budget are open to public review.

Last week, CFAC asked the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office to determine whether L.A. IMPACT's executive council should be subject to the Brown Act and the California Public Records Act.

Gary Scott, [phone], ext. 4458

gary.scott(at)sgvn.com

Marshall Allen, [phone], ext. 4461

marshall.allen.sgvn.com