State to Probe Anaheim Police Allegations

In response to a request by Anaheim Police Chief John Welter, the California Department of Justice will investigate allegations that the city’s previous top management ordered politically motivated police surveillance of local activists.

In a letter received Tuesday, state officials said their investigation -- conducted by the civil rights enforcement section and the state justice department’s Bureau of Investigation -- will review the Police Department’s criminal intelligence gathering policy and allegations made last month by a retired police captain and by City Councilman Richard Chavez, a former firefighter and labor activist.

Retired Police Capt. Marc Hedgepeth said he was directed by two former police chiefs to conduct surveillance on Chavez in the late 1990s. Former Chief Roger Baker and then-City Manager James D. Ruth have denied the allegations. The second former chief, Randy Gaston, is deceased.

In 2001, four Latino activists learned that they were the subjects of a 36-page report that included newspaper stories and a “link analysis” detailing their relationships with one another.

The state said it will conduct a civil investigation. If criminal issues arise, the case will be referred to the Orange County district attorney’s office.