LAPD officer Daniel Flores avoids prison as felony charges are downgraded

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has downgraded 16 felony eavesdropping charges against LAPD officer Daniel Flores to misdemeanors. The decision follows intense public and political criticism that the original felony charges, which carried a potential 13-year prison sentence, could deter whistleblowers from reporting misconduct.

Flores, an officer in the LAPD’s recruitment division, secretly recorded conversations involving colleagues making racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks. The recordings included derogatory comments about Black people, stereotypes regarding Latino individuals, and disparaging remarks about women and queer people. While Hochman maintained that Flores violated California’s two-party consent eavesdropping laws, he stated the office was “listening to the impact the case was having on potential whistleblowers.”

Under the new agreement, Flores will enter a court diversion program. If he complies with all laws for approximately one year, the charges are expected to be dismissed. Flores’ attorney, Alan Jackson, described the outcome as an “absolute victory,” arguing that the officer was performing his duty by rooting out wrongdoing within the department.