Palm Springs Releases Results Of Warm Sands Sex Sting Internal Investigation

Palm Springs Police Chief David Dominguez and City Manager David Ready apologized for what they called “inappropriate comments” made during an undercover sex sting operation in June of 2009 in the Warm Sands area.

The comments came in a report compiled as part of an internal investigation that was launched after some of those arrested complained that officers used gay slurs during the arrest process. Others challenged the charges leveled against them that would require them to register as sex offenders. They claimed a heterosexual couple would not face the same punishment.

The report, compiled by Ready concluded that part of the undercover operation was not executed with professional standards expected of the Palm Springs Police Department and as a result, “disciplinary and corrective action has already been taken.”

Ready said the department should have reached out to businesses in the area and residents to find out more about the alleged “lewd acts” that were taking place. He also said the conduct should have been observed through surveillance and not the use of decoys.

As a result, he said policies have been changed in the department.

Ready outlined the changes in the report, including new guidelines for handling lewd conduct complaints, which include more visible patrols by police instead of the use of decoys; a written undercover plan must be approved by the Chief; training for staff members by a nationally recognized expert in law enforcement on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

The training, Ready said, will extend to all city workers, as well.

“It is also my intent that the unprofessional conduct and comments made in the course of the operation will not happen again,” Ready said. “Ultimately as City Manager, I have to be sure that all operations of city government are appropriate, both legally and ethically, and serve the best interests of the community. In this case, I regret and am embarrassed by the extremely offensive comments that have been attributed to some members of our team and must apologize to the community.”

Palm Springs Police Chief David Dominguez, who is out of town on vacation, issued a written statement, saying “During the Warm Sands arrests an inappropriate comment made by me did not display the utmost professional conduct expected from the Chief of Police and I sincerely apologize to the community at large.”

“Today, a year and a half after the Warm Sands arrests were made, I pledge a renewed vigor to the safety and sensitivity of our community,” Dominguez said.

More than a dozen police officers, the city manager, police chief and a city council person have been ordered to court in January to testify in a hearing that could result in the charges against the men being dropped.

An attorney argues the gay men were unfairly targeted, and allegations of straight couples having public sex were overlooked.

That hearing is scheduled for January 20.