Pubdate: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA) Copyright: 2000 Seattle Post-Intelligencer Contact: P.O. Box 1909, Seattle, WA 98111-1909 Website: http://www.seattle-pi.com/ Author: Robert Jablon, The Associated Press L.A. MIGHT USE TOBACCO AWARD TO COVER POLICE SUITS LOS ANGELES -- Mayor Richard Riordan recommended yesterday that Los Angeles set aside its share of the national tobacco settlement -- up to $300 million -- to cover lawsuits brought by victims of the city's police corruption scandal. "This is the best use of these dollars," Riordan said at a news conference. "Though we have no way of knowing the dollar amount, we must expect and prepare for tens of millions of dollars of liability." The mayor said the move would safeguard against possible cuts in city services or new taxes. City officials have estimated that lawsuits associated with the scandal in the Police Department's Rampart Division will cost at least $125 million. Lawsuits already have been filed on behalf of some men wrongly imprisoned by police. Riordan's announcement came as the scandal took on a higher profile after months of generating little protest. Chief Bernard Parks appeared before the City Council on Wednesday in his most comprehensive, public review of the six-month investigation. Investigators say rogue cops planted evidence, made up testimony, staged crime scenes and in some cases shot unarmed suspects. Yesterday, a judge agreed to throw out the convictions of nine more people whose cases prosecutors say were tainted by police misconduct. The dismissals bring to 40 the number of convictions overturned. "We have dozens of more cases under review," District Attorney Gil Garcetti said. As many as 20 officers have been relieved of duty, fired, suspended or have quit since the investigation started last fall. Police have refused to say how many officers are still under suspicion. Garcetti said he is doubling the number of prosecutors assigned to the investigation, with a staff of 19 expected to be on board within the next two weeks. Former undercover Officer Rafael Perez, convicted of stealing cocaine from an evidence locker, has detailed the corruption in his former unit and suggested it went beyond Rampart. No charges have been filed against any officers implicated in the corruption, though police have recommended prosecuting three officers and Garcetti has said he expects his investigation to result in charges. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson