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A longtime LAPD SWAT sergeant has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging the unit is controlled by a “SWAT Mafia” of veteran cops who encourage the use of deadly force and call members who attempt de-escalation "cowards" (via @LAcrimes): https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-29/lapd-swat-unit-controlled-by-swat-mafia-that-encourages-deadly-shootings-sergeant-lawsuit-alleges
The sergeant alleges he was banished to an LAX detail for telling Internal Affairs about the rotten SWAT culture, and that command staff up to and including @LAPDChiefMoore's one-time chief of staff were aware of the problems but "all turned a blind eye": https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-29/lapd-swat-unit-controlled-by-swat-mafia-that-encourages-deadly-shootings-sergeant-lawsuit-alleges
He alleges SWAT members had to kowtow to the "SWAT Mafia" and its aggressive ways and nepotism, or get booted. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-29/lapd-swat-unit-controlled-by-swat-mafia-that-encourages-deadly-shootings-sergeant-lawsuit-alleges
The longtime LAPD SWAT member alleges this has been under investigation since around Sept. 2018 -- when Internal Affairs "began investigating a complaint that compared the culture within SWAT to the LAPD Rampart Scandal from the late 1990’s." https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-29/lapd-swat-unit-controlled-by-swat-mafia-that-encourages-deadly-shootings-sergeant-lawsuit-alleges
The sergeant alleges that he told Internal Affairs that the "SWAT Mafia" repeatedly told SWAT members during training that "use of deadly force was permissible in situations when Department policy clearly dictated that it was not." https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-29/lapd-swat-unit-controlled-by-swat-mafia-that-encourages-deadly-shootings-sergeant-lawsuit-alleges
The whistleblower, Sgt. Tim Colomey, has a thick Boston accent. He's got a quarter century on the force. He was praised just last year by the department for showing the "drive, spirit and heart" of the LAPD, in this in-house feature: https://twitter.com/LAPDHQ/status/1154887420602507265?s=20
In that podcast, Colomey talks about re-evaluating his life and career after getting hit by a car on the job in the late 1990s.
"No longer [was] it about me and being a cop, it was about me and what could I do to better the city."
"No longer [was] it about me and being a cop, it was about me and what could I do to better the city."
Historical context: LAPD claims it created the nation’s first SWAT team. In the 50 yrs since, SWAT teams have proliferated nationally and become a controversial symbol of militarized policing that unfairly targets Black communities (via @MatteFleischer): https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-12-08/50-years-swat-black-panthers-militarized-policinglos-angeles
Also, SWAT is part of Metro, which has been the focus of multiple other scandals lately. Three Metro officers were just charged with falsifying evidence and accusing people of gang affiliations without evidence. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-10/3-lapd-officers-charged-with-falsifying-records-to-claim-people-were-gang-members-associates
Mayor Garcetti said he can’t comment on specifics of lawsuit, but allegations "would be troubling" if true.
He said he believes in protecting whistleblowers while claims are investigated, and has asked LAPD inspector general to investigate here: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-29/lapd-swat-unit-controlled-by-swat-mafia-that-encourages-deadly-shootings-sergeant-lawsuit-alleges
He said he believes in protecting whistleblowers while claims are investigated, and has asked LAPD inspector general to investigate here: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-29/lapd-swat-unit-controlled-by-swat-mafia-that-encourages-deadly-shootings-sergeant-lawsuit-alleges
