Mayor James K. Hahn's citizens commission formed to examine the televised beating of a suspect in a car chase got off to a rough start Monday when its most outspoken member abruptly resigned and some city officials questioned whether the panel is needed.
Najee Ali, founder of Project Islamic Hope, was one of 11 community leaders Hahn selected Friday to review the investigations of the incident, in which an LAPD officer was videotaped kicking at the African American suspect and striking him 11 times with a flashlight. But Ali said he decided to step down after some city officials expressed doubts about whether he should serve because he is awaiting trial on charges of identity theft and leaving the scene of a car accident.
"I'm not going to be used as a pawn to hurt someone else politically," he said, accusing his detractors of attacking him in an effort to hurt Hahn. "I insist I am completely innocent."
The resignation comes as Hahn and Police Chief William J. Bratton are trying to quell public criticism over last Wednesday's beating. Hahn said he formed the commission to allow members of the community to monitor the official police investigation and provide their perspective. But critics said Monday that they believe the mayor had another motive.
"I think it was clearly political," said City Councilman Dennis Zine, a former police sergeant. "It's an attempt to appease certain people in the African American community."
Zine said it was inappropriate for Hahn to select Ali because he was the subject of a police investigation into a Feb. 22 accident in which he allegedly hit a car head-on and ran into a nearby movie theater. Zine also criticized the appointment of Ronald Antwine, a former gang member and community activist.
Hahn defended the appointments.
"We want to have a broad cross-section of the community because it's important for the community to feel they have a right to watch this process and watch it very closely and be told what is happening every step of the way," he said. "We weren't putting together a blue ribbon commission here. We were putting together a commission of people who represented all aspects of life in the community."
While Ali said the mayor's office was not aware of his criminal case, Hahn insisted Monday that he knew about it.
"I obviously was concerned about the charges, but to me what was important about the citizens' monitoring committee was that we have the broadest range of viewpoints on this," the mayor said.
