Prosecutors allege Daniel Flores secretly recorded 122 conversations involving 16 fellow officers while seeking a potential civil payout.
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County prosecutors filed a 26-page preliminary hearing brief outlining their case against an LAPD officer accused of secretly recording more than 100 conversations with fellow officers without their knowledge.
Daniel Flores, 43, is charged with 16 felony counts of eavesdropping on or recording confidential communications. If convicted, he faces up to 13 years in state prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 10 in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.
Flores is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Flores has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles seeking damages to expose the sexism, racist slurs and other derogatory remarks against minorities.
Quick Facts
- Defendant: Daniel Flores, 43, LAPD officer
- Charges: 16 felony counts of illegally recording confidential communications
- Alleged recordings: 122 conversations involving 16 officers
- Time frame: 2024
- Maximum penalty: 13 years in state prison
- Arraignment: Aug. 10, Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Department 30
- Key allegation: Secretly recorded colleagues without consent
- Prosecutors’ claim: Flores allegedly edited recordings and sought financial gain through litigation
- Related lawsuit: Flores has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles seeking damages
According to prosecutors, Flores secretly recorded 122 conversations involving 16 fellow officers during 2024 while assigned to an LAPD unit responsible for evaluating police applicants. Some recordings allegedly captured racist, sexist and homophobic remarks.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman said Flores had legal avenues to report misconduct, including the LAPD’s Internal Affairs Division and the Office of Inspector General, instead of allegedly violating California’s wiretapping laws.
Prosecutors contend Flores was not acting as a whistleblower investigating criminal conduct because the recorded statements did not constitute crimes. Instead, they allege he was motivated by personal financial gain and a desire to avoid a job transfer.
The filing alleges Flores frequently initiated conversations, edited out many of his own comments and reactions, and participated in insensitive discussions before activating his recording device.
According to prosecutors, several colleagues reported Flores referred to potential civil lawsuits against the city as the “LAPD lottery” and allegedly remarked that the city had “deep pockets” and offered an opportunity to make “easy money for no work.”
Authorities said none of the 16 officers knew they were being recorded or consented to the recordings.
Flores also has filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles seeking monetary damages.