August 29, 2012

On Tuesday, Aug. 28, in the face of some disapproval from civil liberties groups, LAPD approved controversial new guidelines on how its officers can document suspicious behavior they believe could be linked to terrorism as part of its Suspicious Activity Report program.

SEE: "Police Panel OKs Guidelines on Reporting Possible Terrorism" (LA Times) 

LAPD created the program in 2008, asking officers to complete reports whenever they observe or receive accounts of someone engaging in one of many activities identified as possible precursors to a terrorist act.

The LAPD agreed to revise its policy so officers are now forbidden to engage in racial and other profiling, and the department is required to conduct regular audits of the program. In addition, LAPD agreed to create a community advisory board and purge its records of unfounded suspicious reports.

Deputy Chief Michael Downing, head of the LAPD's counter-terrorism bureau, said the revisions were drafted after discussions with community groups, including MPAC.

MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati said the policy changes are necessary improvements and credited the department with listening to his organization's concerns.

"The commission's vote is an important step in new approaches in dealing with the terrorist threat while preserving constitutional rights," he said. 

The new policy advises officers against reporting activity generally protected by the 1st Amendment "unless additional facts and circumstances can be clearly articulated that support an officer's or agency's determination that the behavior observed is reasonably indicative of criminal activity associated with terrorism or other criminal activity."