LAPD Chief Beck responds to improper inmate release allegations

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck responded for the first time Tuesday to a report criticizing an operation that took an inmate to a social event on the taxpayers' dime. He said the Inspector General may have missed some key facts.

Released by the Office of the Inspector General Friday, the report focused on a January event, where a member of LAPD's command staff delivered a high-risk inmate to a private meeting of the Young Presidents Organization, a group of nearly 150 influential business leaders.

LAPD spent $22,000 in public funds on the planning, protection and transportation of Rene "Boxer" Enriquez, a former member of the Mexican Mafia turned jail informant, according to the report.

Community activist Jasmyne Cannick called it wasteful. She witnessed the heavy police presence outside the private venue designed to keep Enriquez safe from a potential hit.

"He literally was like the president of France, complete with armored vehicles, a helicopter overhead. They had air support," Cannick said.

Beck said he has questions, too.

"There are issues with the degree of notification I received, there are issues about the propriety of the venue, and there are some issues about the removal of the inmate," Beck said.

Enriquez, a state prison inmate, was in LAPD's custody to help crack gang cases. The Inspector General's report states that the court order the LAPD used to hold Enriquez was not valid. Beck disputes that.

"The Inspector General isn't privy to all the information that I am regarding this particular writ, but we'll look into all that," Beck said.

Beck also said that the 38 LAPD employees tasked to the event were working anyway and no overtime costs were incurred.

He has launched a personnel inquiry to determine whether there was any wrongdoing.

Deputy Chief Michael Downing gives the orders regarding SWAT and special protection tasks. On Tuesday, his lawyer warned the police commission that Downing's rights to privacy were protected by the law.

I am asking "to put this item completely out of the public agenda," attorney Mike Stone said.

Beck told reporters that the public may learn little about the inquiry's outcome. He says, by law, LAPD will report whether anyone is disciplined, but will not disclose to the public what that discipline is.