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The guilty verdict was a bittersweet victory for district attorney Gil Garcetti, whose eight-year tenure was marred by criticism of his handling of the Simpson and Menendez brothers cases and who was seen as being slow to respond to the Rampart scandal. Two weeks ago, Garcetti was defeated in a bid for re-election by Stephen Cooley, who made the Rampart scandal the centerpiece of his campaign. Cooley has said he will set up a new division in the D.A.'s office dedicated to "pursuing anyone who attempts to taint the public justice system. Good cops will welcome a prosecutor who takes out the bad cops."
Those found by the jury to be bad cops were still defending their actions last week. "I believe we did our job keeping the citizens of L.A. safe from all the gangs and crime that is going on out there," said Sergeant Edward Ortiz after he and Sergeant Brian Liddy and Officer Michael Buchanan were found guilty.
And while charges of police misconduct continue to be examined by the courts, not much has changed on the streets. In Rampart neighborhoods, where residents still hear gunfire at night and wake up to find bloodstains and flower wreaths on the streets where gang members have been killed, there is little criticism of the police. "Sometimes it gets pretty crazy here," says Greg Taymizyan, owner of El Gallerito food market on 3rd and Rampart. He points down the street to where a shooting took place two days ago. "We need the cops here. Because of a few bad apples, you shouldn't throw out the whole basket."
The citizens of Rampart, and the rest of Los Angeles, hope that someone sorts out that basket soon.