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Many LA cops are private investigators

LOS ANGELES, April 21 (UPI) -- Dozens of Los Angeles police officers hold private investigator licenses, creating the potential for conflicts of interest, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Although LA Police Chief William J. Bratton told the Police Commission in February only two of his officers were licensed, Cmdr. Kenneth O. Garner said this week more than 100 probably hold P.I. licenses.

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Because police officers have access to confidential information -- such as law enforcement databases containing personal information on millions of individuals, and knowledge of ongoing cases -- many police departments ban officers from moonlighting as private eyes.

"What's so shocking here is the apparent total lack of knowledge of how many cops are working as P.I.s," said City Councilman Jack Weiss.

The potential conflicts for the officers have been underscored by the ongoing prosecution of Anthony Pellicano, who is accused of employing a veteran LAPD detective to gain confidential information for attorneys in criminal and civil cases.

Mark J. Arneson, who left the LAPD in 2003, also is charged with illegally pulling private data from police computers. Pellicano allegedly paid Arneson $189,000.

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A former federal prosecutor, Weiss said a police officer working as a private investigator is akin to a prosecutor moonlighting as a defense lawyer.

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