LAPD Chief Denies Ordering Probe Of Mayor's Scandal-Plagued USC Scholarship

LOS ANGELES, CA — LAPD Chief Michel Moore on Wednesday denied allegations that he ordered a pair of detectives to investigate Mayor Karen Bass over her acceptance of a scholarship from USC.

Moore denied the allegations that were outlined in an article published Tuesday by the Los Angeles Times. The two Internal Affairs detectives filed complaints claiming Moore directed them to investigate Bass and the scholarship, a directive that came shortly after Bass was elected and was considering whether to retain Moore as police chief, the Times reported.

"I did not initiate, request, or authorize an investigation as alleged in any fashion," Moore said in a statement. "This matter is now with the Office of the Inspector General and I look forward to their investigation into these fictitious allegations."

The Inspector General's office told the Times it is handling the detectives' complaint "according to our standard protocols."

The $95,000 scholarship amounted to a full ride at USC's social work school. It was awarded to Bass in 2011 by the school's former dean, Marilyn Flynn, who was accused of offering the scholarship to then-congresswoman Bass in hopes of her passing favorable legislation, the Times reported.

Flynn was sentenced to three years probation earlier this year in a federal corruption case after she admitted to bribing former LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in exchange for his help securing the renewal of a county contract.

Federal prosecutors did not charge Bass, but wrote in court filings that her scholarship was "critical" in the case against Ridley-Thomas.

Bass' opponent Rick Caruso questioned her acceptance of the scholarship during the campaign. She has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said she got clearance from the House Ethics Committee to accept the scholarship.

The detectives claimed they refused to accept the assignment to investigate the mayor, the Times reported.

"Mayor Bass' focus is on reducing crime. People need to get with that program and stop wasting time and resources on debunked political attacks," the mayor's office told the Times.

City News Service contributed to this report.