By CHRIS T. NGUYEN
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - Two police officers involved in last year’s flashlight beating of a suspected car thief were relieved from duty and four others will be suspended without pay, according to police records released Thursday.
Police Chief William Bratton said two officers and a sergeant were cleared of misconduct in the beating of Stanley Miller, who was struck 11 times with a flashlight by Officer John Hatfield following a high-speed pursuit on June 23, 2004.
Hatfield, who is Hispanic, was videotaped by television news cameras hitting Miller, who is black. No other officers struck Miller but the incident drew comparisons to the 1991 videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King.
The district attorney’s office refused to file criminal charges against Hatfield, citing lack of evidence.
Hatfield and Officer David Hale were relieved from duty effective Friday pending a mandatory hearing before a board that would rule on Bratton’s disciplinary recommendations, according to records obtained from the Police Department.
The two officers will continue to be paid for the next 30 days and will remain on home assignment, said Lt. Paul Vernon.
Bratton declined to disclose his recommendations for the two officers during a news conference Thursday, though a mandatory hearing before the panel indicated the police chief had requested a penalty greater than a 22-day suspension, Vernon said.
Four officers were suspended between four to 15 days without pay. Their suspensions will be effective at the conclusion of possible appeals, Vernon said.
Hatfield and Watson used “unnecessary force” against Miller, records show.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents 9,000 sworn officers including those involved last year’s incident, said it was “deeply disillusioned” by Bratton’s decision.
“While we applauded the DA for conducting an even-handed analysis, we believe that the LAPD’s decision to file administrative charges is based on the sometimes shrill coverage that this case has received in the media,” union President Bob Baker said in a statement.