TORRANCE : Both Sides Hail Aspects of Police Bias Ruling

A federal judge’s order in a discrimination lawsuit against the city of Torrance is being hailed by both sides as a victory.

Torrance officials are applauding U.S. District Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer’s decision rejecting one of the federal government’s several claims of discrimination within the Torrance Police Department.

But the ruling does not halt the lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1993 . It alleges racially biased practices in Torrance’s largely white Police and Fire departments. The suit is set for trial late this year.

In her order this month, Pfaelzer said that the government’s evidence of possible discrimination against three officers “is insufficient to support its claim that there has been a pattern or practice of discrimination” in the Field Training Officer Program for new Torrance police officers.

“This was a significant aspect of the case. It was an important victory, both substantively and psychologically,” said Wayne S. Flick, an attorney with Latham & Watkins, the law firm representing Torrance in the case.

Even so, a Justice Department source praised Pfaelzer for turning down the city’s request to apply a statute of limitations that would have narrowed the time period in which liability could be imposed.