Racist LAPD Recordings Leave Officer Daniel Flores Facing 16 Felony Charges

LAPD officer Daniel Flores, who secretly recorded colleagues accused of making racist, homophobic and sexist remarks, is facing 16 felony eavesdropping charges. He could receive up to 13 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Flores turned over roughly 90 recordings to his superiors, according to an internal affairs complaint he filed with the department. Prosecutors now allege he made 122 recordings that captured racist, sexist or homophobic remarks by colleagues during 2024.

Members of the LAPD recruitment operation were responsible for determining which candidates could be hired by the department. Flores later filed a lawsuit against the city that described derogatory comments he said he heard while working with colleagues involved in recruitment.

The lawsuit alleges officers made offensive remarks about Black people, women, gay people and other racial groups. Flores said Black people were referred to as monkeys, while women were called derogatory names and gay colleagues were targeted with anti-gay slurs.

Other allegations were equally explicit. Flores said a supervisor spoke of an "Asian invasion" while discussing the recruitment of Asian officers and made an offensive remark involving tacos while discussing the death of Los Angeles Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said the content of the recordings did not give Flores the legal authority to secretly record confidential conversations. California law generally prohibits recording confidential communications without the consent of the parties involved.

"It doesn't matter where you work or who you are a neighbor, a coworker or, in this case, a police officer," Hochman said. "Your right to privacy in a confidential conversation is protected."

Attorney Alan Jackson has sharply challenged the prosecution on behalf of Flores. He argues his client was documenting misconduct as part of his duties as a police officer and has stressed that the material went to LAPD Internal Affairs rather than being released publicly.

"Daniel Flores did not leak this material. He did not sell it, post it or hand it to a reporter," Jackson said. "He walked it into Internal Affairs and gave it to his own department."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has criticized the prosecution of Flores while condemning the comments captured in the recordings. The Los Angeles Police Protective League has also condemned the alleged remarks by officers.

Jackson maintains that some conversations occurred in workplace areas where the officers did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, an issue expected to become part of Flores's defense.

An LAPD administrative inquiry recommended that Flores receive a 22-day unpaid suspension for violating department rules. That disciplinary recommendation had not been finalized when the criminal charges were announced.

Chief Jim McDonnell said Internal Affairs investigated the recordings and presented potential criminal conduct to prosecutors. McDonnell has also said the department must maintain a professional workplace and respond when employees violate its standards.

His attorneys are expected to challenge whether the recordings were prohibited under California law as Flores prepares to plead not guilty. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 10 at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.