LAPD Chief Testifies In Discrimination Lawsuit Filed By Latino Officers

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — LAPD Chief Charlie Beck testified Monday in the trial of a discrimination lawsuit filed by two Latino LAPD officers.

George Diego and Allan Corrales filed the lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles alleging they were discriminated against because of their race when the Police Commission overturned a finding by Beck that they were justified when they used deadly force and fatally shot an unarmed black man in 2010.

An attorney for the officers says they thought the victim, 27-year-old Steven Eugene Washington, was armed, but an investigation showed he did not have a weapon and that he also was autistic.

The Police Commission later overturned Chief Beck's finding that deadly force was appropriate in the shooting.

Diego and Corrales claim in their lawsuit that they may not be promoted, that they do not receive overtime, and that their careers as LAPD officers have been ruined.

However, the pair states that Chief Beck could change all that by simply allowing them back into the field.

The attorney suggests the two are still being punished because "they're Hispanic officers who shot an unarmed African American".

Beck told the jury on Monday that this was not the case, saying that race has nothing to do with it, and he reminded jurors that 50% of his patrol officers are Hispanic.

Beck said he was "troubled by (the officers') tactics and by their use of force", adding "I have no confidence in their ability to perform in the field."

The point was also made that Beck has no intention of allowing Diego or Corrales go back into the field in the near future.

The jury is expected to finalize their verdict by the end of the week.