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A retired Los Angeles Police sergeant who released a recording of his conversation with a “Django Unchained” actress who accused him of racial profiling could face up to $10,000 in fines for allegedly violating a pair of ethics rules, the city Ethics Commission.
Retired Sgt. Jim Parker is accused by the commission’s executive director of misusing his city position and improperly disclosing confidential information. The allegations will go before the Ethics Commission, which will determine if they are valid.
Parker could face a fine of up to $5,000 for each violation, according to the Ethics Commission.
On Sept. 11, 2014, Parker responded to a report of a couple having sex inside a car parked in the 11900 block of Ventura Boulevard, and he found actress Daniele Watts and her boyfriend, Brian Lucas, at the scene. Parker asked asked them for identification, but Watts refused and walked away. She was stopped by other officers, handcuffed and returned to the scene.
Watts and her boyfriend were ultimately released, but she later accused the police of racial profiling, noting that she is black and her boyfriend is white.
The accusation led to some outcry among black activists and an internal investigation by the LAPD.
But Parker publicly released an audio recording of his conversation with Watts. The tape debunked Watts’ allegations against Parker, and activists who had come out in support of her responded by calling for her to apologize to the department.
In May, Watts and Lucas pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace. They were ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and to write apology letters to Parker and two other officers.
—City News Service
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