LAPD captain avoids firing after complaint of racist and sexist comments within unit she led
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A Los Angeles police captain whose officers were recorded making racist, sexist and homophobic comments has avoided termination and will be reassigned to another position in the department, according to a transfer order and three sources who requested anonymity to discuss the confidential personnel matter.The captain, Robin Petillo, saw her case before a disciplinary panel dismissed over an apparent statutory issue before a hearing that was scheduled for March 4, according to the sources.Petillo was relieved of her supervisor duties early last year, after The Times reported on a complaint filed with the LAPD alleging that officers under her command in the recruitment and employment division had been unknowingly recorded making vulgar comments, including while talking about police applicants.
The case drew widespread attention and revived concerns that the department had failed to root out a culture of intolerance that led to past scandals.California A complaint reviewed by The Times accuses officers of voicing open discrimination against potential recruits and colleagues based on race, sex and sexual orientation.At least five others from the unit were assigned to home pending the completion of an internal affairs probe, officials said at the time.The Board of Police Commissioners demanded a thorough internal investigation last March, but the status of that probe is unclear and a spokesperson for the commission didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment.
Petillo didn’t respond to an email to her work account.The LAPD complaint about Petillo’s unit detailed portions of roughly 90 recordings of slurs and offensive remarks made by officers tasked with deciding who could join the police force.The complaint detailed taped comments made by Petillo’s subordinates but included no evidence showing she had participated in the excha...