Inside the Police Commission's fight to retain its civilian oversight role amid LAPD defiance

Jeff Skobin was tired of asking.Last November, amid a startling increase in LAPD shootings, the Los Angeles police commissioner requested a report from the department about how its officers’ use of deadly force compared with other large agencies.At the time, Chief Jim McDonnell promised a careful review.The following month, Skobin reminded the department that he was waiting on data and was told it was still being compiled.

He asked again in February and got the same answer.When April rolled around, and the LAPD still hadn’t released the shooting review, Skobin demanded to know what the holdup was, the exasperation now clear in his voice.

Now, the report is slated to be released Tuesday.The LAPD’s unwillingness to provide its civilian bosses with answers to seemingly simple questions comes as the Police Commission seeks to strengthen its oversight role amid a bid by elected leaders to grow their own power over the nation’s third-largest police department.Under proposed changes to the city charter — essentially L.A.’s constitution — the City Council would have the ability to override certain decisions made by the commission, the LAPD’s historical policy-making body, and would have the final say on officer disciplinary decisions.The proposals are being reviewed by the City Council, among other changes to city government, and could go before voters in the Nov.

3 general election.Proponents argue that the change would make the department more accountable to the public.“I think that kind of overlapping authority over policy is likely to be helpful in making sure that the department policy matches the expectations of the community,” said Peter Bibring, a civil rights attorney who previously served as director of police practices at the American Civil Liberties Union of California.

“The City Council has always had the authority to regulate the department by passing ordinances, by modifying the municipal code.And what this does is just allows them ...