L.A. Prosecutors Drop 16 Felony Charges Against Officer Who Recorded Racist Remarks
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 19
L.A. Prosecutors Drop 16 Felony Charges Against Officer Who Recorded Racist Remarks
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 19
Summary
Sixteen felony eavesdropping charges against an LAPD officer who secretly recorded colleagues’ racist, sexist and homophobic remarks will be dropped, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Nathan Hochman said pursuing the felonies risked deterring legitimate whistleblowers, reversing a case critics said could chill reporting of police misconduct.
Daniel Flores had faced 16 felony counts and up to 13 years in prison after making the recordings.
The retreat follows sharp criticism, including from Mayor Karen Bass, and marks a broader shift from treating Flores as a criminal defendant to framing the case around whistleblower protections.