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OVERSIGHT –
When a crime happens in City Hall, who can the people trust to investigate it?
We just saw the FBI step in after former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Brian Williams phoned in a fake bomb threat to his own office. Federal prosecutors say he’s agreed to plead guilty, and it’s no surprise the case landed in their lap. The LAPD couldn’t touch it—not when the Chief of Police serves at the pleasure of the very politicians who might be implicated. In my view, that’s the structural flaw nobody wants to talk about: how can a police department hold City Hall accountable when its own leadership answers to City Hall?
The Problem With Local Oversight
The LAPD Chief doesn’t have civil service protections. That means he can be fired, pressured, or quietly forced out if his investigations point too close to the mayor’s office or other city leaders. The same dynamic exists in the Fire Department. When department heads serve “at will,” it makes them politically vulnerable. And when your boss is the person you’re supposed to investigate, justice is compromised before it even begins.
Why State Oversight Isn’t Enough
Some will argue that state agencies could step in. But I don’t believe that solves the problem.When the same political party dominates city, county, and state offices, does anyone really believe those agencies will aggressively investigate their own? Even if they try, the public won’t see it as independent. And in my opinion, what good is oversight if nobody trusts it?
And let’s be even more honest—I believe corruption isn’t just a possibility, it’s a probability. Political corruption, and the everyday kind too, can and does occur at the highest levels of City government. That’s why “trust us” isn’t good enough anymore. If accountability really matters, then the same transparency tools used for police officers should apply to politicians. Daily body cameras. Full recordings of their conversations. Every meeting, every phone call, every decision. If we demand that level of accountability from a police officer, why wouldn’t we demand it from the leaders running City Hall?
Why the FBI Isn’t a Solution
The FBI’s involvement in the deputy mayor’s case shows that outside accountability is possible—but only in extraordinary circumstances. Federal agencies step in when there’s a clear federal crime, like bomb threats or racketeering. They’re not built to handle the day-to-day political corruption that erodes public trust. That leaves Angelenos asking: who’s watching City Hall the rest of the time?
The Call for Independence
Until Los Angeles builds independent watchdog structures, political elites will remain effectively untouchable. Civil service protections for chiefs would be one start. A permanent, non-partisan agency with the authority to investigate City Hall would go even further. And if city leaders want to prove they’re serious about transparency, they should start by putting on the same body cameras they’ve required of police officers for years.
As I see it, until city leaders are willing to live under the same accountability measures they impose on their own employees, Angelenos should be wary of what they say and do. Transparency isn’t optional—it’s the only way to root out corruption.
(Michael Barone is a retired LAPD Sergeant, Serial #33210, with 23 years of service. He writes about public safety, law enforcement history, and civic accountability.)
Author’s Note: This article is part of a continuing series on LAPD and civic accountability. In “Why Veteran Cops Are Leaving the LAPD Early — and What Los Angeles Is Losing,” I explored the human cost of losing experienced officers. In “Why Los Angeles Needs to Revisit Civil Service Protections,” I argue that real reform requires insulating chiefs of police from political pressure. And in “How CompStat Failed Los Angeles — and Why the Numbers Can’t Be Trusted,” I show how data manipulation undermined public safety and accountability. Together, these articles expose how Los Angeles has failed both its officers and its citizens—and what needs to change to restore integrity.
