Following the loss of a lawsuit with the Los Angeles Times, the City of Long Beach has agreed to pay attorneys’ fees of $245,000. The City and the Police Union will split the cost of the settlement.
The lawsuit, filed by the LA Times, the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups, asked for the names of any Long Beach officers involved in shootings within a five year period, under the State Public Records Act.
The case stems from the 2010 fatal shooting of Douglas Zerby, who was shot by police while holding a pistol-grip water hose nozzle, which police say they mistook for a gun.
At the time, the Police Officers’ Association (POA) had concerns about the safety of officers involved in shootings if their names were released, said Assistant City Attorney Monte Machit.
The State Supreme Court justices said the POA’s case was unfounded in May, stating that the information should be public knowledge. However, the court agreed that there may be certain circumstances when names aren’t disclosed for the safety of the involved officers.
LBPD officers Victor Ortiz and Jeffrey Shurtleff were identified for being involved in Zerby’s death. Zerby’s family won a $6.5 million civil judgment against the city and the officers.