PERRY, MACK URGE REOPENING OF COP DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS.

Byline: RACHEL URANGA Staff Writer

Under mounting pressure to lift a veil of secrecy on police disciplinary hearings, the Police Commission and the City Council on Tuesday sought ways to reopen closed-door hearings.

Councilwoman Jan Perry directed city staff members to come up with ways to restore public access to meetings formerly open to the public, while police Commissioner John Mack formed a task force to look at the police's disciplinary board procedures.

The meetings were closed after a California Supreme Court ruling last August forced officials to cut off public access to disciplinary hearings and restrict personnel records.

The decision drew criticism from civil rights and community groups. Last week, they criticized the LAPD's board of rights ruling clearing Officer Steven Garcia of any disciplinary action in the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Devin Brown despite the commission's having found that he violated use- of-force policy when he fired 10 shots at the boy.

Calling the new law a ``legal noose,'' Mack said the secret meetings fuel public distrust and must be changed.

He asked the commission to review the board's manual and find ways to ensure transparency.

``This is essential if we are ever to achieve mutual trust and eliminate suspicion and distrust,'' he said.

Police officials disagreed.

``This self-serving rush to court popular and media approval is shortsighted and ill-conceived,'' said Bob Baker, Police Protective League president.

rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com

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