Los Angeles, August 28, 2007 – The Los Angeles Police Protective League applauds the decision by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ernest M. Hiroshige to deny the City’s legal motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the League. The suit involves a June 2005 search of the desks and file cabinets assigned to investigators of Robbery/Homicide Division of the LAPD, as part of the aftermath of an investigation regarding the death of rapper Notorious B.I.G. The suit contends that the Department violated state law as guaranteed by the Public Safety Officers Bill of Rights Act.

“The warrantless searches of desks and file cabinets of LAPD Robbery and Homicide Detectives took place after lawyers for rapper Notorious B.I.G. raised the possibility that the LAPD may have improperly stored documents, tapes and other evidence that would normally have been available to them in a civil case against the City,” said LAPPL General Counsel Hank Hernandez.

“The Court disagreed with the City’s assertion that since there has not been a recent recurrence, there was not an existing “actual controversy” between the Police Department and the League which would justify judicial relief. The court ruled that the League’s lawsuit satisfied the legal requirements to proceed with its legal action seeking a Court determination that desks and file cabinets of officers constitute “locker or other spaces for storage” and subject to the protections of the law and for an injunction to prevent such unlawful searches in the future,” added Hernandez.

About the LAPPL

Formed in 1922, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,000 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com