After arguing for more than a year that hundreds of undercover LAPD officers were at risk because their photos were mistakenly made public, the city of Los Angeles has suddenly reversed course, conceding that most of those involved are not working in the most sensitive police roles.
In a series of court filings last week, city attorneys argued that the roughly 900 officers — whose names have so far been kept secret — don’t have a right to remain anonymous, and asked a judge to order their identities disclosed if their lawsuit against the city is to proceed. The city has also sought to dismiss the suit entirely.
The case revolves around the publication of the photos on the website “Watch the Watchers” by journalist Ben Camacho and the activist group Stop LAPD Spying Coalition in March 2023. The city’s disclosure of the mugshot-style images — along with names, races and other demographic details of police officers — in response to a public records request sparked outrage in the Los Angeles Police Department, and led to claims by LAPD and city leaders that undercover officers had been endangered.