Posted on 06/09/2010 7:06:31 PM PDT by SmithL
In a breach that may have compromised investigations of alleged police misconduct, an employee of San Jose's Independent Police Auditor repeatedly leaked confidential information over several years to the San Jose police officer's union, the union's former president has told the Mercury News.
Police Sgt. Bobby Lopez said that the person, whom he would not identify, gave him inside information about complaints against police officers made to the IPA. At one point, he said he was tipped to an upcoming Mercury News story about the violent arrest of a San Jose State University student.
Told of Lopez' comments, newly-appointed police auditor LaDoris Cordell said she had recently notified the San Jose city attorney of an allegation against an employee Cordell would give no details, but Skyler Porras, former head of the local office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she notified the IPA late last month of her belief that Lopez had a spy in the office.
Porras said she has since been interviewed by an attorney about the allegation.
"I take seriously any allegations that in any way might impugn the integrity and independence of my office,'' Cordell said, declining further comment about Lopez's statements.
The five-person staff of the Independent Police Auditor provides the primary independent oversight of the city's police department, receiving citizen complaints against the police and monitoring the police department's investigations of its own officers.
When asked why a person in the office would have given him confidential information, Lopez said: "They felt that, for many reasons, the office was being disingenuous'' and being unfair to the department, particularly under the leadership of former IPA head Barbara Attard.
Lopez contended he was helping the officers and the department by using the secret source.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Police and DA’s covering up police misconduct? I’m shocked! Lawsuits and bullets are the only thing they understand.
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