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LAPD tried to influence outcome of SWAT shooting
Daily News Wire Services
Updated: 01/07/2009 07:44:51 AM PST

The LAPD waged an aggressive behind-the-scenes campaign to convince coroner's officials to change their finding that a SWAT officer's bullet killed a 19-month-old girl held hostage by her father three years ago.

The intense lobbying effort, which involved one of the department's highest-ranking officials, led to significant friction between the LAPD and coroner's office.

It also raises questions about whether the Los Angeles Police Department crossed an ethical line in pushing so hard, some medical and law enforcement experts said.

Ultimately, the LAPD's campaign led nowhere. The coroner has stood firmly behind its conclusions. But the LAPD's unusual attempt to have the case reopened underscores the deep, lasting effect the death of Suzie Pena has had on the officers involved and on SWAT as a whole.

The infant was killed on July 11, 2005, when officers exchanged fire with her father, Jose Raul Pena, who was high on cocaine and suicidal. He was holding his daughter when he was shot to death.

The elite special weapons and tactics unit had never before killed a hostage in thousands of operations over nearly 40 years.

The shooting exposed SWAT, used largely to serve warrants on dangerous suspects and handle standoffs involving barricaded people, to vigorous scrutiny by a panel of consultants convened by police Chief William Bratton.

Out of the review came changes aimed at making the unit less isolated from the rest of the department and reforms in the way members are selected.

Through a spokesman, Bratton refused to comment and refused to allow other LAPD officials to respond, citing ongoing lawsuits regarding the Pena shooting. Coroner's officials also declined to comment.

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