Jury Awards Reserve Officer Shot by Detective $2.1 Million

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury Tuesday awarded $2.1 million to a former reserve officer with the San Fernando Police Department who was shot and seriously wounded by a Los Angeles police narcotics detective during a 1980 stakeout.

Ricardo Rose, now 29, of Northridge, who said the accidental shooting ended his lifelong dream of a career in law enforcement, burst into tears as the jury’s unanimous verdict against the City of Los Angeles was read.

He embraced and thanked many of the panel members, who had deliberated since late Thursday, after they were dismissed by Judge Bonnie Lee Martin.

Detective Victor L. Carranza, 40 at the time of the incident, also was named a defendant in the civil lawsuit. The jury also found that Carranza was negligent when he shot Rose.

Lawyer Elated

Jury foreman Regina Sabados, 43, a legal assistant, said the panel reached its decision “calmly, collectively and logically.”

Rose’s attorney, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr., said he was elated with the award. The suit, filed in 1981, had sought $10 million.

Assistant City Atty. Thomas Hokinson called the judgment “excessive.” He said city officials will review the jury’s finding and then decide what, if any, action the city will take next.

Rose, who was hit three times in his legs with slugs from Carranza’s .38-caliber revolver, was forced to resign from police duties because of his injuries. Cochran told the jury that his client is permanently disabled and will suffer emotional trauma for the rest of his life.

According to testimony in the 10-day trial, Rose and Carranza met 10 minutes before a stakeout was set up June 25, 1980, in front of an apartment house in the 2400 block of West 9th Street in Los Angeles. But when Carranza saw Rose later, the detective said, he mistook him for the suspected drug dealer San Fernando and Los Angeles officers were attempting to apprehend.

Concentrating on Gun

Los Angeles Police Lt. Charles Higbie, who handled the investigation of the shooting for both departments, said Carranza did not recognize Rose because the Los Angeles officer was concentrating on the gun in Rose’s hand.

Rose was wearing a blue shirt, the same color the narcotics suspect had been reported as wearing, and emerged from a brown unmarked police car, the same color as the suspect’s car, Higbie said. Rose also resembled the suspect, Paul Ramos, 54, in build, the lieutenant said.

Rose said he was standing by the side of Ramos’ car and was in the process of arresting the suspect when he saw Carranza coming toward him with his gun drawn. The former reserve officer testified that he identified himself several times and held up his badge before Carranza shot him.

In 1981, a Los Angeles police board of rights found Carranza guilty of employing improper tactics. But the board acquitted the detective of a second, more serious, charge of violating department policy governing the circumstances in which firearms are used. The board suspended Carranza for two days without pay.

Rose, who walks with a noticeable limp, said he now is trying his hand at writing music and movie scripts. He said he no longer needs a cane to walk, but cannot sit or stand for long periods of time.