WHISTLE-BLOWER LAWSUIT PROBED BY THE LAPD.

Byline: SUE DOYLE, BETH BARRETT and KERRY CAVANAUGH Staff Writers

The Los Angeles Police Department has launched an internal investigation into allegations in a lawsuit that a former deputy chief offered promotions in exchange for sex, authorities said Thursday.

Michael Berkow, now police chief in Savannah, Ga., is accused of sexual harassment and discrimination in a suit filed by a female officer who said she was transferred and demoted after complaining about his behavior.

In addition, Ya-May Christle also claimed retaliation after reporting misconduct about information concealed about rapper Christopher Wallace, known as Notorious B.I.G., while working in the Internal Affairs Department, which Berkow used to run.

Attorneys for Berkow and the city have denied the allegations. Berkow could not be reached for comment, but the Savannah city manager expressed ``full confidence'' in Berkow at his new post.

``The Police Department is aware of the allegations and lawsuit, and an investigation has been under way for some time,'' said LAPD spokesman Lt. Paul Vernon.

Vernon could not comment further but said Chief William Bratton regards Berkow as an outstanding police officer.

Brad Gage, Christle's Woodland Hills-based attorney, said the lawsuit, which was filed in May, centers on retaliation against a whistle-blower.

``That's really what this case is all about when you cut down to it,'' Gage said. ``She complained of misconduct, broke the code of silence in connection with documents that we claim were hidden from the Wallace family in the federal civil-rights lawsuit.''

Clint Robison of Hinshaw and Culbertson, the law firm representing the city and Berkow, said Christle's allegations were sensational.

``Anyone with $500 can file a complaint, but that doesn't mean the allegations, which are fairly sensational, can be proven,'' Robison said.

Gage said Christle was demoted from sergeant to detective about two months after alerting superiors to what she thought was inappropriate police conduct in the Wallace case and for the other allegations.

To avoid a conflict of interest, the investigation was then assigned to the Consent Decree Department instead of the Professional Standards Bureau, because Berkow previously worked there, Vernon said.

In the lawsuit, Christle claimed Berkow had an affair with an officer. She claimed that the woman frequently left a police investigation room that Berkow had converted to a bedroom, where he would later emerge from dressed in pajamas.

Christle also claimed that Berkow gave preferential treatment to a female police officer under investigation for lying to the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department about a car accident, in exchange for sex.

In addition, Christle claimed that after compiling information about rap star Notorious B.I.G., her computer was taken away because it contained claims from some witnesses that LAPD officers were involved in his slaying. Christle claimed that it was part of an LAPD conspiracy to hide evidence that is self-incriminating.

Perry Sanders, an attorney who with Gage represents the Wallace family in a wrongful-death lawsuit against the LAPD, said ``in theory'' the allegations in Christle's lawsuit could tie into new accusations.

``The cover-up is absolutely part of everything, it plays a role in everything,'' Sanders said. ``Their post-murder behavior, we think, is relevant to the claims we have.''

Robison said Gage is using Christle's case to dig up personnel files and internal affairs investigations to aid his case representing the Wallace estate, which seeks $363 million for the rapper's wrongful death.

``This lawsuit is part and parcel of a plan to unearth any piece of paper or information relevant to the issues in that (Wallace) case,'' Robison wrote in a brief filed with Los Angeles Superior Court.

``It is clear that plaintiff has taken a discrimination case and wrapped it in the cloak of the Wallace case as a means to obtain discovery.''

sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com

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