LAPD officer Daniel Flores alleges retaliation after recording colleagues' misconduct

Daniel Flores, an LAPD officer who recorded colleagues making racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks, has spoken out about the personal toll of the subsequent legal battles. Flores was originally charged by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman with 16 felonies for allegedly violating state eavesdropping laws. Following criticism from officials including Mayor Karen Bass, the charges were downgraded to misdemeanors under a diversion agreement that will likely allow Flores to avoid prison time.

Internal LAPD documents suggest potential irregularities in the timing of the prosecution. Records indicate that prosecutors initially declined to bring charges in July 2025 due to insufficient evidence. However, the District Attorney’s office moved forward with the prosecution less than three weeks after Flores filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the city, alleging retaliation for reporting misconduct. Flores and his legal team maintain that the criminal charges were a direct response to his civil litigation.