Villaraigosa appoints former assistant U.S. attorney to LAPD oversight panel
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday tapped Richard Drooyan, a former assistant U.S. attorney, to fill a vacant seat on the civilian body that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department.
The nomination to the Los Angeles Police Commission marks a return to LAPD issues for the 59-year-old Drooyan. In 1991, he provided legal counsel to the Christopher Commission, which recommended sweeping reforms to the LAPD following the Rodney King beating.
Nearly a decade later, Drooyan led a group formed by city officials in the wake of the Rampart police scandal and was given the task of recommending further reforms to the LAPD.
In a brief interview, Drooyan said “the department has made a lot of strides and is much different” from its troubled past. He said he had no preconceived notions about issues he believes need attention today.
The mayor’s choice must be approved by the City Council, which is not expected to raise any significant objections. If confirmed, Drooyan will join a five-person panel charged with setting policy for the department and overseeing its operations.
Previously, the Harvard Law School graduate served for several years in the United States attorney’s office. He rose to the position of chief assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of California and also headed the criminal division there.
Villaraigosa touted Drooyan in a statement, saying he “brings to the Police Commission experience as a seasoned and proven federal prosecutor.”
-- Joel Rubin
Photo: Richard Drooyan. Credit: Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
According to this reporter, Drooyan has been involved, on and off, with issues dealing with the LAPD for twenty years, and Drooyan states that, he has no preconceived notions about issues he believes need attention. That sounds like either he's a fool or he just plan to follow the status-quo.
Posted by: marti1978 | March 15, 2010 at 03:35 PM
Why all the attorneys on the police commission board? What happened to balance and fair? All these attorneys have no clue what the dept. goes through from being in law books all their life. These police commission boards are beginning to look like ACLU councils. The Mayor should have chosen a business per.
Posted by: Dennis | March 15, 2010 at 03:55 PM
Great just what the city of LA needs. Believe what you want about "containing the LAPD." But...its only going to hurt the citizens of LA. Glad I don't live there.
Posted by: joe mendez | March 15, 2010 at 04:06 PM