A Los Angeles Superior Court jury has awarded a combined $14.6 million to four veteran Los Angeles Police Department officers who claimed they faced retaliation after raising alarms about inadequate training and safety protocols. The verdict, delivered Thursday in the courtroom of Judge Kristin S. Escalante, marks a significant victory for the officers and a rebuke of the department's internal culture.
The four officers, Craig Burns, Alex Chan, Mark Hogan, and Kristine Salazar, each with nearly two decades of experience, said they were punished for speaking out about what they deemed dangerous shortcomings at the LAPD’s Edward M. Davis Training Facility in Granada Hills. The city’s attorneys had denied any retaliation or discrimination occurred in their court filings.
Beginning in 2018, the officers reported serious issues, including critical staffing shortages that they argued left police recruits with insufficient training in the use of deadly weapons. Hogan and Salazar, both senior firearms instructors, along with Burns and Chan, who are veteran armourers, claimed their expertise was ignored. They also raised concerns that new training protocols introduced by a supervisor at the time would have led to violations of the law.
Concerns ignored, careers derailed
Instead of their concerns being addressed, the lawsuit stated the department launched Internal Affairs investigations into the four officers in 2019. The officers said they were subjected to a campaign of retaliation that included demotions, removal from their specialized assignments, and involuntary transfers, effectively derailing their respected careers.
These officers bravely spoke out not just for their own rights, but for the safety of the public and their fellow officers. In return, they were subjected to egregious retaliation simply because they reported misconduct and unsafe working conditions.
The jury’s decision "exposes a culture of retaliation designed to silence officers who report misconduct and it sends a powerful message that those who abuse authority will be held accountable," McNicholas says.
One of the most pointed allegations involved Officer Salazar, who was formally accused of participating in a "blue flu". an illegal, coordinated sickout by police officers to protest working conditions. The department alleged she had faked an illness to participate, but Salazar maintained she was legitimately sick and filed her initial lawsuit in December 2019, kicking off the legal battle.
A history of disputes
This is not the first time the LAPD has faced legal challenges over 'blue flu' accusations. In May 2021, the city of Los Angeles agreed to pay $30,000 each to four different officers who alleged they were wrongfully disciplined for calling in sick during the July 4th weekend in 2020. In that case, the city accepted the judgments rather than proceed to trial, vindicating the officers who claimed they had legitimate reasons for their absences.
The recent verdict of $14.6 million, however, is a far more substantial financial and reputational blow to the city. It adds to the growing list of expensive legal payouts stemming from LAPD actions, such as an $11.8 million award to a Dodgers fan injured by an LAPD projectile. Recent events also include when police charged four men over an alleged murder plot.
The case highlights the crucial role of whistleblower protections, which are designed to shield employees who report misconduct or unsafe practices from retribution. Under laws like California Labor Code Section 1102.5, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency about a suspected violation of the law. The jury found that the LAPD had violated these very protections.
Implications for public safety
The core of the officers' concerns. inadequate firearms training for new recruits. raises serious questions about public and officer safety. Proper instruction and ample practice are critical for ensuring officers can make split-second, life-or-death decisions appropriately. The plaintiffs argued that the staffing shortages and questionable protocols at the Granada Hills facility created an unacceptable risk for both the public and the officers themselves.
The verdict arrives as the department continues to navigate complex issues of staffing, accountability, and community trust. While Mayor Karen Bass has ordered more police patrols in some areas to address crime, this case underscores the internal challenges the department faces in maintaining standards and fostering a culture where officers feel safe to report problems without fear of reprisal. The proceedings of this case and others can be followed as Los Angeles courts continue to enhance public access through digital tools.
McNicholas believes the outcome will have a lasting impact beyond the financial compensation for his clients. He said the verdict sends a powerful message not only within the LAPD but to law enforcement agencies across the country that accountability for retaliatory behaviour is essential for maintaining a just and safe society. In Australia, for instance, police in Sydney have also been navigating high-profile criminal cases, showing that law enforcement agencies worldwide are under constant scrutiny. For more, read about how police charged four men over an alleged murder plot.
The City of Los Angeles has not yet announced whether it will appeal the decision.
