L.A. District Attorney Hochman hires special prosecutor for police misconduct

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has hired a special prosecutor for cases of police misconduct, his office announced Thursday.

Hochman previously fired his predecessor’s appointee shortly after taking office last month.

Michael Gennaco will be the man tasked with prosecuting law enforcement officers accused of misconduct, including police shootings.

Hochman’s office described Gennaco as one of the “foremost experts in civil rights and police misconduct cases” in the country, with a distinguished record of successful prosecutions.

Gennaco is a former Chief of the Civil Rights section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in California’s Central District, the D.A.’s Office said, with a decadeslong career in civil rights prosecution and investigating instances of excessive force.

Hochman says that experience will be crucial as his office looks to “reevaluate prior decisions and take a fresh look at cases involving officer-involved shootings.”

Gennaco will be in charge of reexamining evidence and pursue criminal charges against law enforcement officers if deemed warranted.

“Our goal is to ensure transparency and accountability while strengthening public confidence in our justice system,” Hochman said in a news release. “His appointment reflects our dedication to ensuring justice and fairness in all aspects of our criminal justice system.”

He’ll assume a similar role as Lawrence Middleton, a special prosecutor hired by former D.A. George Gascón, whom Hochman fired within days of taking office.

Middleton was hired in 2021 to reevaluate multiple deadly police shootings that former D.A. Jackie Lacey declined to prosecute. In more than three years in the position, he failed to obtain a single conviction while billing Los Angeles County over $1 million, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Gennaco’s contract went into effect on Jan. 14. The terms were not disclosed.