Kevin Gaines (police Officer) - First Evidence of Corruption

First Evidence of Corruption

Evidence of Gaines's corrupt behavior first surfaced in the summer of 1996. Police responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at a Hollywood Hills mansion. Gaines, off duty, showed up at the scene and is alleged to have initiated an altercation with the responding officers. The officers handcuffed Gaines when he became verbally abusive and provocative. According to police records, Gaines shouted profanities and stated, "I hate fucking cops."

Gaines claimed he was mistreated by the police and hired an attorney to file a claim against the city. However, when LAPD Internal Affairs investigated the incident, they discovered the 911 call had actually been made by Gaines himself. Investigating officer Russell Poole, who later became deeply involved in investigating the Rampart Scandal, claimed that "the evidence suggests that he did that to engage LAPD in a confrontation and basically wanted to secure a pension or whatever by filing a lawsuit."

Falsely reporting a crime is a criminal offense and technically should have warranted Gaines' removal from the force. Moreover, the home was owned by Sharitha Knight, the estranged wife of Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight, a known member of the Bloods. However, Internal Affairs, which was run by Deputy Chief Bernard Parks, did not pursue any further investigation at that time. Parks would go on to become Chief of Police, and actively work to suppress the investigation of corrupt Rampart officers. In fact, Parks's questionable handling of the Rampart investigation, and suppression of information, would eventually lead investigating officer Russell Poole to quit the force in protest.