Today, I sent the following e-mail to Los Angeles Chief of Police William J. Bratton: Quote:[font=Georgia,Bookman,Times]To: William J.Bratton - Los Angeles Chief of Police <brattonw@lapd.lacity.org>, <lapdonline@earthlink.net> From: "George W. Maschke" <maschke@antipolygraph.org> Subject: Misconduct and Cover-up in LAPD Scientific Investigation Unit Alleged Cc: Mayor James K.Hahn <MayorHahn@mayor.lacity.org>, Councilman Ed Reyes <reyes@council.lacity.org>, Councilwoman Wendy Greuel <greuel@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Dennis P.Zine <zine@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Tom LaBonge <labonge@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Jack Weiss <weiss@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Tony Cardenas <cardenas@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Alex Padilla <padilla@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Bernard Parks <parks@council.lacity.org>, Councilwoman Jan Perry <perry@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Martin Ludlow <ludlow@council.lacity.org>, Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski <miscikow@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Greig Smith <smith@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Eric Garcetti <garcetti@council.lacity.org>, Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa <villaraigosa@council.lacity.org>, Councilwoman Janice Hahn <hahn@council.lacity.org>, Sharon Papa <papashar@lapd.lacity.org>, Laura Johnson <johnsonl@lapd.lacity.org>, Nancy Gennusa <gennusan@lapd.lacity.org>, Steven Johnson <johnsons@lapd.lacity.org>, Los Angeles Police Protective League <leaguemail@lappl.org>, Los Angeles Times <metrodesk@latimes.com>, L.A.Daily News Newsroom <dnmetro@dailynews.com>, L.A.Independent <editor@laindependent.com>, Daily Bruin News Desk <news@media.ucla.edu>, UPN Channel 13 Newsdesk <upndesk@upn13.com>, NBC 4 News Editor <story@nbc4.tv>, KTTV Fox 11 <newsdesk@fox11la.com>, KCET <viewerservices@kcet.org>, KNX 1070 <comments@knx1070.com>, KFI AM 640 News Department <kfinewsdirector@kfi640.com>, KRLA News Talk 870 <krla@newstalk870krla.com>, KCRW <mail@kcrw.org>, KPCC <mail@kpcc.org>, Anthony Marquez - Associated Press <amarquez@ap.org> Dear Chief Bratton: I am writing concerning allegations of high-level misconduct within the Los Angeles Police Department that I believe require your personal and prompt attention. I am a co-founder of AntiPolygraph.org, a non-profit, public interest website dedicated to exposing and ending waste, fraud, and abuse associated with polygraph testing. AntiPolygraph.org has received credible reports that Mr. Roy Ortiz, the supervisor of the LAPD Scientific Investigation Unit's polygraph unit, falsified reports of polygraph examinations of LAPD applicants as well as those of current officers seeking assignment to specialized units such the Narcotics Division, Organized Crime and Vice Division, and the Anti-Terrorist Division. Specifically, it is alleged that Mr. Ortiz sent to the Personnel Division's Administrative Investigation Section (AIS), commonly referred to as "Backgrounds," polygraph reports that differed from the actual reports on file with the polygraph unit. These discrepancies were allegedly discovered in the course of an audit conducted by Terry Carter. The audit allegedly covered a six-month period and revealed numerous cases where reports sent by Mr. Ortiz to background investigators differed from those on file with the polygraph unit. It is also alleged that in at least one case, Mr. Ortiz forged the signature of an examiner in the polygraph unit following a disagreement over the results of a polygraph examination. It is further alleged that Terry Carter, the employee whose audit exposed the alleged misconduct, was removed from her position and re-assigned to the Supply Section before she could complete her audit. It is also alleged that upon completion of an Internal Affairs investigation, Police Administrator Steven Johnson, the SID commanding officer, exonerated Mr. Ortiz of all wrongdoing, despite solid proof of misconduct. It is alleged that Mr. Johnson "used the loophole that there was no official Polygraph Unit Manual in place at the time Ortiz changed the reports, therefore Ortiz could not be held accountable for his actions." It is further alleged that in addition to Mr. Johnson, Police Administrator Nancy Gennusa, Commanding Officer, Technical Services Group, Police Administrator Laura Johnson, Commanding Officer, Fiscal and Technical Services Bureau, and Assistant Chief Sharon Papa, Office of Support Services, were all aware of Mr. Ortiz's alleged misconduct. The text of the communications received is posted on the AntiPolygraph.org message board in a thread titled, LAPD Polygraph Cover-up? These allegations raise serious questions that demand answers, including, but not limited to: 1) Did Mr. Roy Ortiz in fact alter reports of polygraph examinations without the knowledge or consent of the polygraphers who administered them? 2) If Mr. Ortiz did indeed improperly alter such reports, what action has been taken to correct the personnel errors associated with that misconduct? 3) Have the applications of any LAPD applicants who passed the polygraph, but whose results were falsely reported as failing, been reinstated? If not, why not? 4) What action is to be taken in the case of any applicants who failed the polygraph, but whose results were reported by Mr. Ortiz as passing, and who have since been hired by the LAPD? 5) What is to be done regarding any currently serving officers who were granted or denied assignment to the Narcotics, Organized Crime and Vice, or Anti-Terrorist Divisions based on falsified polygraph reports? 6) What action has been taken to identify any other instances of improprer reporting of polygraph results (that is, those not included in the six-month audit that Terry Carter conducted)? If no such action has yet been taken, will you insure [sic] that it is? 7) Was there really an urgent need for Terry Carter's transfer to the Supply Section, or was this a case of retaliation against a whistleblower? Sincerely, George W. Maschke AntiPolygraph.org [/font]
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