Los Angeles Police Detective Jilvee Abalos is asking a Superior Court judge to order the LAPD to turn over overtime records for one of his supervisors, a key piece in a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit set to return to court later this month. Abalos alleges he was punished after documenting occasions when his boss appeared to be working in the office while signed up for Metropolitan Transportation Authority overtime shifts. His attorneys filed motions this week seeking production of the overtime logs ahead of a July 30 hearing.
What Abalos' filings say
In court papers submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, Abalos’ attorneys say the supervisor, who is also a detective, came into the Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy while supposedly on Metro overtime and that Abalos copied sign-in sheets and photographed the supervisor in Metro-related attire to support his complaints, according to MyNewsLA. The filings state that after Abalos was seen photographing Metro-related clothing in October 2023, he was told to surrender his FBI take-home car and credentials, removed from the FBI cyber task force and downgraded in rank, the suit alleges. The complaint, filed in December 2024, says Abalos lost income and promotion opportunities because of the department’s actions, per the court papers.
His record and role
Public personnel listings show Abalos has been with the LAPD since 2009 and has worked in the Major Crimes Division’s online intelligence and cyber-related assignments, where he held a detective title, according to OpenOversight. The filings say he also served as a DHS cyber fellow and was later selected to work with the FBI’s cyber task force, which his lawyers argue makes the loss of that assignment particularly significant in the close-knit world of specialized cyber work.
Why the overtime logs matter
Abalos’ attorneys argue the supervisor’s overtime logs and reports could show whether the supervisor collected Metro overtime pay while performing non-Metro work, a pattern that has already produced costly litigation for the city. A 2025 jury award of about $4.5 million to a retired LAPD sergeant who alleged retaliation after reporting Metro overtime abuse highlights the potential stakes, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times.
Legal implications
In earlier response papers, the City Attorney’s Office has denied the plaintiff’s allegations and raised defenses including the statute of limitations and municipal immunity, court documents show, according to MyNewsLA. If the judge orders the records produced, Abalos’ lawyers say the logs could bolster their claims of retaliation and lost pay. If the court instead accepts the city’s procedural or immunity arguments, the case could be tossed before it ever reaches a jury.
What to watch
The hearing is scheduled for July 30 in Los Angeles Superior Court. If the motion is granted, the LAPD could be ordered to turn over the supervisor’s overtime logs and related reports. The court’s public information lists the Stanley Mosk Courthouse at 111 North Hill Street in downtown Los Angeles as a central civil courthouse where such matters are often heard, and the July date will be the next public test of Abalos’ request.
The case adds to a string of internal LAPD personnel disputes tied to overtime, off-duty assignments and retaliation claims, and it may sharpen questions about how off-duty policing for transit agencies is tracked and audited inside the department. Legal filings and the July hearing will show whether the department’s internal timekeeping and supervisory oversight can withstand a fresh round of courtroom scrutiny.
