Investigation Called for City Council President

The union representing the Los Angeles Police Department has requested an investigation into City Council President Marquise Harris Dawson. This follows allegations that she contacted a school board member to evade a court appearance after being pulled over while driving in a school district recently.

On March 4, Harris Dawson stated she felt she was racially profiled when a school police officer stopped her in a city vehicle while en route to a committee meeting. The stop occurred due to a U-turn made within the school district.

Reports from the California Post indicated that she received a $238 fine for various moving violations.

According to the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), which shared news accounts of Harris-Dawson’s phone call to the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent during the incident, there are concerns about whether she misused her official capacity to circumvent consequences for her alleged traffic violation near a high school during peak dismissal time.

“If these claims are accurate, the public deserves clarification on which member she contacted, the nature of that conversation, and if the involved officers were approached by the school board member,” the LAPPL stated in letters addressed to Los Angeles City Attorney Heidi Feldstein Soto and District Attorney Nathan Hochman, which were obtained by Fox News Digital.

The LAPPL emphasized the importance of a comprehensive investigation to determine whether Harris Dawson’s actions breached the law and eroded public trust. LAPPL President Ricky Mendoza noted that it is “unethical and potentially illegal” for officials to use their authority to escape accountability, especially in school zones.

In a recent congressional meeting, Harris Dawson described her experience during the traffic stop as traumatic, echoing feelings from a similar experience in her youth. “Data regarding false traffic stops often reveals significant racial bias,” she remarked.

She mentioned having been stopped four times while operating a government vehicle, reciting her interactions with officers: “First, roll down your windows. Next, they asked how she came to be in this car, and then, they inquired about her position with the city,” adding, “I am the council president.”

Attempts to reach Harris Dawson’s office, along with inquiries directed to Feldstein Soto and the district attorney’s office, did not yield immediate responses as of Wednesday evening.