Watchdog rules spying allegations against ex-chief 'unfounded'

A months-long investigation has exonerated former LAPD Chief Michel Moore after he was accused by two internal affairs detectives of ordering an investigation into Mayor Karen Bass's ties to USC, it was announced. Tuesday the Los Angeles Police Inspector General's Office.

Florence Yu, the acting inspector general, said investigators in her office determined the complaint against Moore was “unfounded,” meaning they proved no wrongdoing occurred. Yu announced the results of the investigation Tuesday at a meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners, a five-member civilian committee that oversees the department.

Greg Smith, the detectives' attorney, called the investigation a cover-up project by a commission that “was politicized and protected Chief Moore for years.” As proof, he says, investigators didn't even bother to interview his clients, the detectives who filed the initial complaint.

Moore said in an interview Tuesday that he was satisfied with the results of the investigation into an allegation he called “without any merit.”

“It made no sense and it was very sensationalist,” he said. “I'm happy to know that the investigation revealed that what I said all along (the detectives' complaint) was not true.”

The allegations against Moore were first reported by the Los Angeles Times late last year after both detectives filed complaints with the inspector general's office, saying they had received the ordered to investigate Bass shortly after his election. Moore has strongly denied the allegations.

The two lead detectives who filed the complaints said they were called to a meeting with then-Capt. Divyesh “John” Shah, the head of internal affairs, who relayed the demand for an investigation into Bass and suggested the order came from Moore.

In their complaints, detectives said they found Moore's alleged request troubling to the point that they ultimately declined the assignment. It is unclear why internal affairs investigators would have been tasked with conducting such an investigation.

Shah has since left Home Affairs following his promotion to Commander.

During his speech before the committee on Tuesday, Yu did not provide details about his office's investigation. She also did not comment on the question raised by a whistleblower regarding the possibility that Moore's subordinates misinterpreted the chief's words and asked to investigate Bass without his knowledge.

Questions about Bass' $95,000 scholarship to USC's school of social work were raised by his opponent in the 2022 mayor's race, Rick Caruso. He criticized Bass, a former Assembly speaker and six-term congressman, for agreeing to it and then proposing legislation that would have given USC and other private universities greater eligibility for funding federal.

Bass has long denied any wrongdoing. The House Ethics Committee authorized his request to accept the tuition award.

Although federal prosecutors have not charged Bass, they said in court documents that his scholarship and connections to USC were “critical” in a corruption case involving the university and a top elected County official. Los Angeles.

Moore announced his abrupt resignation in January, saying he would not serve his second five-year term so he could spend more time with his family. He and Bass have repeatedly said the allegations had nothing to do with his decision to retire.

Commissioner William Briggs said Tuesday that it was clear from the inspector general's investigation that “the allegations against former Chief Moore are completely false, they are defamatory, in fact there is not a shred of evidence » that he acted inappropriately.

“It is unfortunate that we live in a time where individuals can make completely unfounded allegations,” Briggs said, while adding that “the motives of the officers who made these allegations are and will be” investigated. further.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Acting Police Chief Dominic Choi said he could not comment on the matter because he was not aware of the investigation's findings.

A spokesperson for Bass did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

The findings were called political theater by Smith, the detectives' lawyer.

“I can't think of any case where the IG or Commission (ever) found wrongdoing on Moore's part, it seems like they are protecting his image instead of investigating wrongdoing,” Smith said in a statement.

“Several officers complained that Moore wanted the Mayor investigated,” Smith wrote, “now the Commission intends to retaliate against these officers in a blatant attempt to cripple the rights employees who wish to file complaints against high-ranking LAPD officials who commit misconduct and abuse of their positions.

He also said that given Moore's close relationship with recently departed Inspector General Mark Smith — who cited Moore as a reference when running for a police oversight position in Portland, Ore. — the investigation amounted to a conflict of interest.