L.A. Cop Alleges Lethal Force, Retaliation by SWAT ‘Mafia’

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team is allegedly controlled by an internal “mafia” of officers who glamorize the use of lethal force and retaliate against those who speak out against them, a suit filed Monday in state court says.

Former SWAT Sgt. Timothy Colomey sued the City of Los Angeles asserting causes of action for whistleblower retaliation and the Private Attorneys General Act.

SWAT was widely touted as an elite police unit, the complaint says, and was equipped with special weapons and trained to address high risk situations.

Colomey alleges SWAT was controlled by a group ...