special order 40 is a directive issued jointly by the los angeles city council and the los angeles police department (lapd) under chief daryl gates and the los angeles city council in 1979 prohibiting officers of the lapd officers from questioning individuals for the sole purpose of whether they were in the united states legally. the special order was the center of controversy following the 2008 murder of jamiel shaw ii by a perpetrator who was a member of the 18th street gang and an illegal immigrant to the united states. an effort to put a repeal measure on the ballot in 2009 failed. police commissioner william bratton successfully opposed rescinding the special order.