A group of prominent attorneys on Monday called for an independent investigation of the firing of fugitive and suspected killer Christopher Dorner from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Dorner, the subject of an intense manhunt in Southern California, allegedly threatened in a online manifesto to kill police officers, apparently in part as revenge for his firing from the LAPD in 2008.
On Saturday, the department said it would reopen the case surrounding Dorner's termination from the force.
But a group of attorneys from the law firm founded by Johnny Cochran -- best known for defending O.J. Simpson -- said that's not good enough.
"We don’t think that Bonnie can investigate Clyde," attorney Nana Gyamfi said. "We think you need to get some independent people we trust."
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Police Chief Charlie Beck vowed to re-open the investigation in order to show the public the department is transparent, but three attorneys say many in the African-American community do not trust the LAPD.
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Gyamfi described Beck's attitude as: "Hey, you know we got a good thing. We had problems before but we’re cool now. Don’t let this man come get in between what we’re doing."
"That’s a lie," Gyamfi said. "We’re not cool. We still have problems."
The attorneys would like to see Dorner’s case reviewed by a panel made up of retired law enforcement, judges and attorneys who could re-open the case from the beginning and re-interview witnesses.
"It would increase the public’s trust, and I think that’s very, very important when you’re talking about the African-American community and the history of the African-American community with the LAPD," attorney Jamon Hicks said.
Dorner’s case was already heard by a police department board of rights and an appeals court. Both ruled that his firing was justified because he lied when he claimed a supervising officer kicked a suspect.
The LAPD says the new investigation will be independent, conducted by the inspector general’s office.
"The chief has been clear this will be an open and transparent review. And we will be in contact with the inspector general who will oversee that," LAPD Lt. Andy Neiman said.
The attornies tell NBC4 in no way do they condone the violence of which Dorner has been accused.
