|
|
|
| NEWS > 02 April 2007 |
Other related articles:
Who's minding the shop on corr
Crikey editor Misha Ketchell writes:
In Western Australian the anti-corruption watchdog has unearthed some startling revelations of undue influence by disgraced former Premier Brian Burke. But is anybody lifting up rocks to shed light on the creepy crawlies that lie beneath in other states?
It's surely not mere coincidence that the states which have standing anti-corruption watchdogs -- WA, Queensland and NSW -- are the states where dodgy behind-the-scenes deal making and influence peddling has come to light.
In an interview on Four Corners former director of the Qu... Read more
|
 Article sourced from
|
|
San Jose Mercury News - San Jo
02 April 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
|
Los Angeles Police Department,
|
LA police ask Philip Morris fo
LOS ANGELES- Philip Morris USA has agreed to donate $50,000 to the Los Angeles Police Department to help pay for an investigation into counterfeiting of the company's cigarettes.
The funds, which were solicited by police Chief William Bratton, have drawn criticism from ethics watchdogs and others, who worry the deal opens the door for better services to go to crime victims who can afford to pay.
The City Council's Public Safety Committee on Monday postponed a decision on whether to accept the Philip Morris donation, which was endorsed earlier by the Police Commission.
Councilman Jack Weiss said he wanted to study the matter further. The committee was now expected to consider the donation next week.
In a letter to the company, Bratton said the department was requesting the funds to help pay for the ongoing investigation into the "illicit manufacture, transport, distribution or sale of Philip Morris USA products."
"I feel comfortable that the department can handle that in an ethical way, and can conduct the investigation in an objective and fair manner," Police Commission president John Mack said.
LAPD Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said there was no quid pro quo involved that would guarantee an outcome of the investigation in exchange for the money.
Such donations have been made before.
In the past, the motion picture and recording industries have helped fund police investigations into pirated goods, while the
Automobile Club of Southern California has helped pay for LAPD investigations into auto theft and Realtors have paid for real estate fraud investigations, said Councilman Bernard Parks, the city's former chief of police.
But some ethics watchdogs criticized the request, saying it raises fairness concerns about whether wealthy crime victims should be allowed to pay for police protection that poor victims wouldn't be able to afford.
"It raises the unfortunate possibility that police are asking citizens and business to pay extra for protection ..." said Tracy Westen, chief executive of the Los Angeles-based Center for Government Studies.
Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, also questioned the police solicitation of funding.
A representative of Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris didn't return a call for comment, but the director of its Brand Integrity Department said in a letter to Bratton that he approved the funding.
|
| |
 EiP Comments:
|
|---|
|
| |
* We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper or periodical. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and we will remove the article. The articles republished on this site are provided for the purposes of research , private study, criticism , review, and the reporting of current events' We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper , periodical or other works. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and where necessary we will remove the work concerned.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 |
Ethics in Policing, based in the UK, provide information and advice about the following:
Policing Research | Police News articles | Police Corruption | International Policing | Police Web Sites | Police Forum | Policing Ethics | Police Journals | Police Publications |
|
| |
|
