REMEDY FOR CORRUPTION; PANEL SEEKS TO LIMIT LAPD ANTI-GANG DUTY PANEL PROPOSING CHANGES IN CRASH UNIT.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Staff Writer

As a result of the Rampart Division police corruption scandal, a special panel has recommended the more frequent reassignment of anti-gang officers, in part to prevent them from being lured into criminality, a police spokesman said Tuesday.

The Board of Inquiry, established after a former anti-gang officer told investigators about widespread wrongdoing, also has proposed the renaming of the anti-gang CRASH unit and a merger with other specialized sections.

A key recommendation is that no officer remain for more than three years in CRASH, or Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums, said Los Angeles police Cmdr. Dave Kalish, the department's top spokesman.

``We don't want officers to stay too long to become overly familiar with a particular criminal element,'' said Kalish. ``In part, it addresses what occurred at Rampart.''

The change also would allow more officers to train within such specialized units as CRASH, Kalish said.

A similar policy is in place at the LAPD's vice unit, which limits officers to no more than two years' service so officers won't establish relationships with criminals, officials said.

Former Officer Rafael Perez had been in the CRASH unit when he was arrested for stealing cocaine from an evidence locker. In a plea agreement, he told investigators that he and another officer shot and paralyzed an unarmed gang member named Javier Ovando and then fabricated evidence that sent Ovando to prison for 23 years.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, chairwoman of the Los Angeles City Council's public safety committee, said the recommendations make sense, including the two- or three-year limit.

``It's not healthy for the officers to be in an intense environment where all they see is the worst criminal,'' she said.

``Clearly, there was something going awry with Perez and that whole Rampart scene. I think both the city and the officers are going to be better served (with recommendations).''

The Board of Inquiry plan is subject to approval by Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, who contributed to the restructuring proposal, Kalish said.

The officers union, the Los Angeles Police Protective League, also is reviewing the recommendations.

Dennis Zine, union vice president, said he wants to meet with police officials to hammer out details.

``We could have a limited tour of duty on any unit: motorcycle detail, helicopter detail, mounted units,'' he said. ``Would it extend out to all assignments? That's what we have to discuss.''

If approved by Parks, at least four units, including CRASH, Career Criminal, Special Problems and the Narcotics Enforcement units would be consolidated, officials said.

The proposed name for the new unit is Special Enforcement Unit, officials said. The recommendations also include a more direct chain of command for officers, Kalish said.

``What the department is evaluating and studying is to consolidate some of these specialized units to have more supervision and oversight,'' Kalish said.

Much of the restructuring would reinforce existing rules, Kalish said. For example, watch commanders at each station would be required to give booking approvals.

Lt. Gary Nanson, who heads the San Fernando Valley's CRASH, said he believes the restructuring would help in the fight against crime. ``I think it's a little better way to organize your resources and operate more effectively,'' Nanson said.

The LAPD's Board of Inquiry was established by Parks in late September after his announcement that 11 Rampart Division officers had been relieved of duty following allegations by Perez.

As of Tuesday, 20 officers have been relieved of duty, resigned, been suspended without pay or fired, officials said.

Dennis Chang, an attorney for Ovando's 3-year-old child, said he believes the Rampart Division scandal occurred because of lack of supervision, but added that reassigning officers more often would rob the unit of experience.

``These guys get to know the gangbangers . . . and they have a pulse on the community,'' he said. ``I don't see the benefit there.''