Mayor Bass criticizes DA for charging LAPD officer accused of recording co-workers' racist comments
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Wednesday criticized prosecutors for criminally charging an LAPD officer accused of illegally recording the conversations of colleagues who allegedly made racist, sexist and homophobic comments.
Daniel Flores, 43, was charged last week with 16 felony counts of eavesdropping or recording confidential communications. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 10 in downtown Los Angeles.
Prosecutors allege that Flores, who was assigned to the LAPD's Recruitment and Employment Division, made the recordings of his colleagues in 2024, and they were made "without the permission of those who were recorded."
Flores claimed in a hostile-workplace lawsuit he filed against the city in June that he made the recordings in what he believed was part of a "lawful investigation as a police officer" into department members using racist, sexist and homophobic slurs.
"While I understand that it is inappropriate and a crime to record colleagues without their consent, these charges certainly send the wrong message that calling out egregious behavior could land you in prison," Bass said in her statement provided to ABC News.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a July 31 statement, "We deplore the sexist, homophobic and racist remarks made by certain LAPD employees, and they should be held accountable for such statements. However, in our all-party consent state, where California has been one of the nation's leaders in protecting privacy and deterring illegal eavesdropping for over a half a century, one cannot simply choose to break the law because one wants to pursue a personal agenda. The options are not break the law or do nothing. One can address important issues by going through the proper legal channels. If one chooses a law-breaking path instead, then the consequences will be straightforward and significant."
Flores could face up to 13 years in prison if convicted.
"I appreciate the District Attorney's careful review of this matter and support the legal process now underway," LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement. "The LAPD's Internal Affairs Division conducted a thorough investigation, identified criminal conduct, and presented the facts for filing consideration, as is our responsibility when potential criminal conduct by an employee is discovered. I am committed to ensuring the workplace is professional, respectful, and free from misconduct, and any employee who violates those standards will be held accountable."
LAPD chief describes how police have been using drones as first responders
In his lawsuit filed in June against the city, Flores contended that he was subjected to a hostile workplace beginning in about late 2021 when a new supervisor took over the LAPD's recruitment division and "repeatedly made derogatory statements and fostered an environment in which other employees were encouraged to do the same."
The lawsuit claims his co-workers made comments calling women "(b------) who cannot be trusted." Some co-workers also derided Asians and Hispanics, with Flores' supervisor claiming former Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela died because "he ate too many tacos," the suit states.
The suit also contends co-workers made derogatory statements about sexual orientation. Other co-workers allegedly made various derogatory statements against Black people.
According to the lawsuit, Flores submitted his complaints about his co-workers to LAPD Internal Affairs and the Los Angeles Police Commission in January 2025.
City News Service contributed to this report.
