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Los Angeles has agreed to pay $300,000 to cover the legal fees of a local journalist and a technology watchdog group that had been sued by the city last year for publishing photos of names and photographs of hundreds of undercover officers obtained through a public records request, the journalist’s attorney said Monday.
The release of the photos caused controversy, with the LAPD claiming it compromised the safety of undercover officers. The lawsuit filed against journalist Ben Camacho and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition was condemned by media rights experts and news organizations as an attack on free speech.
Camacho had requested the LAPD’s roster and inadvertently received photos and personal data of undercover officers, which were later used by the watchdog group to create an online database. The city sought to retrieve the photos through a lawsuit, which has now been settled after mediation.
The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition stated, “This case was never just about photographs. It was about the public’s relationship to state violence.” The settlement ensures radical transparency within the LAPD and protects First Amendment rights.
The city attorney’s office did not immediately respond for comment. The LAPD declined to comment. The settlement, which includes dropping demands to remove and return the photos, now awaits approval from the City Council and mayor.
Camacho still faces a separate lawsuit for damages, but remains committed to upholding transparency and free speech. The case highlights the importance of protecting journalists and their rights in holding government agencies accountable.