Last year, the city filed a lawsuit against a technology watchdog group and a local journalist for publishing photos of hundreds of undercover officers’ names and faces. However, on Monday, the journalist’s lawyer revealed that the city has agreed to pay $300,000 to cover their legal fees.
When the photos were released, it caused a significant uproar from the Los Angeles police officers and their union. They were concerned that it would jeopardize the safety of individuals performing undercover work and other sensitive tasks, such as investigations into gangs, drugs, and sex traffickers. Subsequently, the city attorney filed a lawsuit against Ben Camacho, a former reporter for the progressive news site Knock LA, and the watchdog group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition. Many media rights experts and newsrooms, including The Associated Press, viewed this as an attack on free speech and press freedoms.
Inadvertently, the LAPD provided Camacho with their roster, containing the personal information and pictures of all 9,300 officers, including their race, rank, date of hire, badge number, and division or department. The officials failed to request an exception for the undercover cops, and therefore their pictures and personal information were also disclosed. These records were then utilized by the monitoring group to create an easily searchable online database, named Watch the Watchers.
In April 2023, the city attorney’s office filed a lawsuit in an attempt to retrieve the already-publicized photos. However, Susan Seager, the lawyer representing Camacho, revealed that a settlement was agreed upon following the city’s request for Camacho and Stop LAPD Spying to resolve the matter through mediation the previous month.
According to Seager, the city’s actions reflect their understanding that once they provide documents to a reporter, they cannot subsequently sue the reporter and request that the documents be returned.
“If the city had won the case, any government agency would have been suing reporters left and right to retrieve documents that they didn’t intend to give them,” she stated.
Upon being asked for comment through email on Monday, the city attorney’s office did not respond immediately. Similarly, the LAPD declined to provide any statement.
According to a statement made by those who oppose police surveillance, the issue at hand goes beyond mere photographs. Their concern revolves around the emotions that arise from government violence.
According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, Camacho and Stop LAPD Spying will no longer be asked to return the pictures of officers in sensitive positions, take them down from the internet, or refrain from posting them again. The deal must now receive approval from both the City Council and the mayor, as stated in court documents.
On Monday, Camacho expressed his satisfaction with the settlement, stating that it is a victory for the public and the First Amendment. He also emphasized that it ensures the LAPD remains transparent and open. Camacho shared his thoughts on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The city attorney’s office is currently pursuing a lawsuit against Camacho and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition for the second time. The main aim of the lawsuit is to hold them accountable for the release of the pictures and make them pay compensation to LAPD officers, who sued the city over the matter.
Source: AP News
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