Pubdate: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 Source: Denver Post (CO) Copyright: 1999 The Denver Post Contact: http://www.denverpost.com/ Author: John Rogers LA CORRUPTION PROBE INDICATES VAST SCANDAL LOS ANGELES — One of the largest scandals in the city's history widened Friday as investigators took another look at a fatal 1996 shooting and suggested that evidence in hundreds of other cases may have been tainted by police corruption. The Los Angeles Police Department, rocked this decade by the videotaped beating of Rodney King and the O.J. Simpson case, hasn't had a scandal this far-reaching since the corruption-ripe days of the 1930s. It began with help from Rafael Perez, a 32-year-old former undercover narcotics officer. He is revealing details of crimes on the force in exchange for a lighter sentence after pleading guilty to stealing 8 pounds of cocaine from a police evidence room. "The district attorney has sent out over 200 letters to defense lawyers saying that Officer Perez's testimony might be tainted in their case," Police Chief Bernard Parks told reporters Friday. Although most of the letters went out about a year ago, the district attorney expects defense lawyers to respond now because of the recent publicity. Parks and Police Commission President Gerald Chaleff also indicated Friday they have no idea yet how widespread the scandal may be. "We will follow the facts where they lead," Chaleff said. So far: Parks has suspended 10 officers and a supervisor at the city's Rampart Station, which covers an 8-square-mile area just west of downtown that is home to many recent immigrants from Latin America and Asia. The U.S. Attorney's Office has announced it is investigating. Javier Francisco Ovando, a gang member serving 23 years in prison for assaulting officers in 1996, was freed after Perez said he helped frame the man. Perez said he and his former partner handcuffed Ovando, shot him and planted a gun on him. Ovando was paralyzed in the shooting. Authorities are investigating a 1996 police raid on a building in which one suspected gang member was killed and another wounded. Perez took part in the raid but didn't fire his weapon. He called the shootings "dirty." "It's a bad situation for the city and the department," Parks said. The chief said he planned to talk with Rampart officers. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake