Detective Arrested in Theft of Heroin

An LAPD Harbor Division detective was arrested Thursday on suspicion of pilfering a small quantity of heroin, but police officials said the case was unrelated to the corruption scandal in the Rampart Division.

Richard Ginelli, a 35-year veteran of the department, was booked on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance. His bail was set at $10,000.

The officer told investigators that he had “a personal use problem,” said Police Chief Bernard C. Parks.

“The key issue is that this is not connected in any way with the current [Rampart Division] investigation,” Parks said. “It’s a singular event. [Ginelli] made it clear the drugs were for his own personal use. No others in his unit were involved.”

An investigation began when other Harbor Division narcotics officers who worked with Ginelli expressed suspicions to their supervisors. The Internal Affairs Division set up a sting operation.

“The sting involved placing some narcotics at a location to see if he booked the full amount,” Parks said.

The chief said he has known Ginelli, who has worked narcotics for most of his career, for 26 years.

“I would not have thought he would be involved in an activity like this,” Parks said. “He was considered one of the most outstanding officers in his field.”

Parks emphasized that although the department is devoting extensive manpower to the Rampart Division scandal, it will continue to vigorously investigate other police misconduct cases.

A dozen Rampart Division officers have been relieved of duty or forced to leave the department in connection with the largest LAPD corruption scandal in 60 years.

Ex-LAPD Officer Rafael A. Perez, a convicted drug thief who is cooperating with authorities in exchange for a lighter prison sentence, has alleged that in 1996 a 22-year-old gang member was shot and then framed.

As a result of Perez’s testimony, Javier Francisco Ovando, who was paralyzed in the shooting, was released from prison, where he was serving a 23-year sentence.

Perez has told police that another shooting also was “dirty,” and investigators are looking into that case.