Following Racism Scandal, A South Bay Police Department Enters Reform Agreement With CA

TORRANCE, CA — A South Bay Police Department that was embroiled in a racist text message scandal a few years ago has entered an agreement with the California Department of Justice to reform the agency.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday that the Torrance Police Department agreed to change its practices, including those related to internal affairs and use-of-force. It would also implement an external oversight and address disparities and bias in policing, according to authorities.

Bonta said the agreement was an "important step" toward the department's practices and he hopes it'll strengthen the trust between community members and officers.

"We do not take lightly the concerning circumstances that led to this independent review," Bonta said in a statement Thursday. "I am optimistic that TPD’s cooperation throughout this process, and its commitment to reform, will lead to real results that will allow it to better protect the safety of the community it serves and support the well-being of its personnel."

The Department of Justice began an independent review into the department after two then-officers with the Torrance Police Department spray-painted a swastika on an impounded car.

That investigation into that incident led to a bigger scandal that revealed dozens of officers in the department had been exchanging racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic messages, according to authorities.

The review found that the Torrance Police Department needed improvements in various areas, including oversight, employment practices, community policing, supervision and bias in policing.

Now, the department will work with state officials over the next five years to improve those areas.

In a statement on Thursday, Interim Torrance Police Department Chief Robert Dunn said the agreement would lead to significant improvements within the department and that they'd be working to "diligently" implement new reforms.

"The message to our employees, elected leaders, and the community is clear: The Torrance Police Department has a zero-tolerance policy for hate and discrimination and is committed to constitutional policing," Dunn said.