Los Angeles police officers are searching for to fireplace a senior captain after an inside investigation decided he did not disclose a romantic relationship with a civilian worker after which lied about it to inside affairs detectives, in accordance with three division sources.
The captain, Alejandro “Alex” Vargas, was summoned earlier this week to the workplace of Assistant Chief Daniel Randolph and informed that he could be assigned residence, in accordance with the sources, who requested anonymity to debate a confidential division personnel matter.
Vargas most lately served because the senior captain of Van Nuys Division. His legal professional didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Friday.
Beneath town constitution, officers whose conduct is deemed a fireable offense are directed to look earlier than a board of rights listening to, a military-style tribunal the place witnesses testify and proof is introduced, often behind closed doorways.
The previous 911 dispatcher with whom he was romantically concerned has already been terminated as a result of as a civilian she may be fired outright, in accordance with the division sources, though the girl can nonetheless file an attraction to regain her job.
Vargas first got here underneath inside investigation after division officers discovered of his relationship with the previous dispatcher, which gave the impression to be consensual. However Vargas allegedly lied to inside affairs and tried to dissuade a witness from cooperating with the investigation, in accordance with one of many sources conversant in the allegations.
Vargas was accused of kissing the civilian worker whereas on responsibility and failing to report their relationship to a superior officer, as is required underneath division guidelines.
Inner investigators reportedly stored tabs on Vargas by pinging his city-owned cellphone and thru bodily surveillance. Vargas himself had beforehand commanded the shadowy inside affairs unit accountable for surreptitiously following officers accused of misconduct.
When reached for remark this week, the division mentioned by means of a spokesperson that it doesn’t focus on personnel complaints.
The case is one among a number of lately involving high-ranking male LAPD officers embroiled in relationship scandals. Former Assistant Chief Alfred “Al” Labrada was demoted and beneficial for termination final yr after he got here underneath police investigation for allegedly utilizing a monitoring machine to watch the actions of a feminine officer with whom he was romantically concerned.
Labrada, as soon as thought of a doable candidate to be the subsequent chief, has denied the allegations and is suing the town of Los Angeles, accusing former Chief Michel Moore of publicly outing him as a result of Moore felt threatened by him. The feminine officer, Daybreak Silva, who filed a police report, additionally has a authorized declare alleging that division leaders failed to guard her from social media backlash.
Prosecutors in San Bernardino County declined to press prices in opposition to Labrada, writing “there isn’t a proof” he was “actively monitoring” Silva.
Labrada’s board of rights listening to is set for subsequent month after being pushed again a minimum of as soon as.
After LAPD management turned conscious of Vargas’ relationship with the dispatcher, the sources conversant in his case mentioned, he was quietly transferred from his earlier submit overseeing the division’s communications arm to Van Nuys. He was transferred across the identical time as one other male commander who was additionally underneath suspicion of violating a coverage in opposition to sexual relationships with lower-ranking officers, the sources mentioned. The opposite male commander has since left the power.
The sources mentioned Vargas, who has 30-plus years with the division, may select to retire fairly than face a board of rights.
