The Los Angeles Times has taken legal action against the city of Los Angeles to obtain records of alleged sexual harassment and other misconduct by Los Angeles Fire Department members that the newspaper maintains is being wrongfully withheld. The Times’ Los Angeles Superior Court petition cites the California Public Records Act in asking a judge to order the release of all non-exempt documents requested. A representative for the City Attorney’s Office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the petition brought Monday. “Under a body of law that goes back almost 45 years, public agencies, including the city, must disclose government records reflecting well-founded allegations of misconduct against public employees,” the petition states. The LAFD’s alleged denial of the employee misconduct records violates the CPRA and improperly prevents The Times and the public from understanding how the LAFD investigates complaints against employees and imposes discipline, according to the petition.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 26, 2023 19:43 UTC