Los Angeles DA reduces charges against LAPD officer who taped colleagues making racist remarks

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has reduced felony charges against LAPD officer Daniel Flores, who secretly recorded colleagues making racist and sexist remarks. Initially charged with 16 felonies, the charges have been downgraded to misdemeanors, allowing Flores to avoid jail time if he remains law-abiding for a year.

Flores reported the recordings to the LAPD's internal affairs in early 2025, after they captured officers making offensive comments in 2023. The Los Angeles Times reported on the tapes at the time. Prosecutors faced criticism for the severity of the charges and concerns that it could discourage whistleblowers from coming forward.

Hochman acknowledged that Flores violated a California eavesdropping statute but maintained that Flores' actions were still wrong. However, he announced that the charges were reduced to misdemeanors, preventing Flores from facing up to 13 years in prison. The decision was made in response to backlash from Flores' attorney and others who argued that the heavy charges sent a message that whistleblowers would face legal consequences for exposing wrongdoing.

Hochman stated that the reduced charges still send a strong message that such comments are unacceptable, but the initial charges sent the wrong message to the public and could deter potential whistleblowers.