Police Must Undergo Cultural Training

Reacting to the videotaped police beating of a 16-year-old boy, the Inglewood City Council has voted to install video cameras and recording devices in all police cars and to make all officers undergo cultural sensitivity training and regular psychological examinations.

Another council recommendation, which would create a citizens review panel appointed by the mayor, probably will be voted on next week.

The resolutions, passed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, have been opposed by representatives of the Inglewood Police Assn., who say the new rules violate the terms of their contract.

In reply, Mayor Roosevelt Dorn said the council’s actions would greatly improve the embattled police force.

“None of these changes are made because I think we have a bad Police Department,” Dorn said. “We have one of the finest police departments in the country, but that does not mean that we cannot continue to improve.”

Officials of the police group, a union with 147 members, said they had never been included in any plans to change department policy. They are awaiting a final draft of the resolutions before they take legal action, said a spokesman, Neil Murray.

“We will drag the city into court,” Murray said. “We’re not going to sit around while they try to impose this on us. Whenever you make changes in working conditions, you have to sit down with that group of people who these changes will affect, and that never happened here.”

But Lt. Eve Irvine, the Police Department’s spokeswoman, gave no indication that the department would challenge the council’s actions.

“We’re just waiting to find out what will be required,” Irvine said.

After the resolutions are implemented, all officers will have to complete an unspecified amount of cultural sensitivity training, in addition to the basic cultural awareness courses they take before they join the force.

They will also have to submit to psychological evaluations every three years. Currently, those tests are given only during the application process.

Murray said that cameras in police vehicles and a citizens review board are acceptable, but that the association is most concerned with the new training and psychological testing requirements.

“When our people came on board, that was never a condition of hire and now they’re going to have to [undergo psychological testing] because the city is bowing to media hysteria,” Murray said.

The 193-officer department has been under a microscope since July 6, when Officer Jeremy J. Morse was caught on tape slamming a handcuffed Donovan Jackson onto the trunk of a patrol car. Seconds later, Morse was seen punching the youth in the face.

The tape, which reminded many of the Rodney G. King beating in Los Angeles, set off angry protests and calls for an overhaul of the Police Department.

Dorn, who introduced the resolutions, said the new policies are reasonable, necessary and in no way a public relations move. These were plans he had had for a long time, but he had been waiting for the appropriate political climate to introduce them, he said.

“I was sure I could get the votes at this time,” Dorn said. “When an opportunity presents itself, you take advantage of that opportunity.”

Dorn said the new policies, for which he could not estimate a cost, would take effect as soon as possible.

Another change, which would require video and audio taping of police interviews involving criminal matters or interrogations, was being researched by city officials, Dorn said.

Morse and his partner, Bijan Darvish, have been indicted by the Los Angeles County Grand Jury.

Each could serve three years in prison if convicted.