Police officer claims fellow officers sell LAPD guns to civilians and dealers.

Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles police officers bought and sold guns from the police armory for profit, and told the lieutenant in charge of the armory to "watch his back" after he reported it, the 25-year LAPD veteran in court.

Armando Perez sued the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department in Superior Court.

Perez, who joined the LAPD in 1987, claims he was retaliated against, suspended and threatened after he discovered, through his job as "Officer in Charge of the Armory," that officers in the Metropolitan Division were buying and reselling guns to other officers, civilians and gun dealers.

"In or around May 2010, plaintiff initiated a detailed audit of Metro's inventory of firearms," the complaint states. "While performing the weapons audit, plaintiff learned that both officers within the unit and civilians were purchasing special LAPD SWAT-stamped Kimber firearms intended for official use. Plaintiff also discovered that the officers within the unit were possibly reselling these Kimber firearms for large profits to people outside of Metro SWAT - to LAPD officers of various ranks, including captains, plaintiff's own commanding officer, Captain John Incontro (hereinafter, 'Incontro'), and to non-LAPD civilian personnel.

Plaintiff also discovered that the officers, unbeknownst to Kimber (the manufacturer), were allowing Cinema Weaponry to purchase these pistols at discounted price, and were allowing Lucas Ranch Gun Sales to facilitate the transfer of the pistols from Kimber to the officers. Plaintiff also discovered records indicating that Officer James Quinlan (hereinafter 'Quinlan') and other officers were facilitating the sales of the Kimber firearms to these other non-Metro LAPD officers, non-LAPD civilians, and gun dealers."

Perez’s fresh accusations of LAPD misconduct burn further holes in the department’s credibility.

The LAPD’s conduct, if true, is particularly reprehensible given that the state of California is considering enacting some of the strictest gun laws in the country. The case also serves to highlight the “above the law” mentality embraced by many of our nation’s police departments and the errant hypocrisy embodied therein.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/25/55123.htm
http://www.infowars.com/officer-claims-cops-sell-lapd-guns-to-civilians-and-dealers/

LAPD launches probe into alleged resale of weapons by SWAT officers:
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/24/local/la-me-swat-gun-sales-20120825