Credibility in the Courtroom

Based on “impressions,” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Katherine Mader casts doubt on the credibility of two LAPD officers (“Conundrum,” Metropolis, March 28). For those left thinking that police officers regularly lie, stretching probable cause to justify illegal searches, let me give you cause for pause. Years ago as a new prosecutor, I went on a ride-along with two plainclothes LAPD narcotics officers. They had received a tip that narcotics were being sold out of a duplex. After identifying themselves and me, one officer stated that we had received a tip regarding drug sales at the location. He asked a man at the door if we could come in to look around. The man consented.

Imagine my amazement when we entered and saw a group of people sitting on two couches on either side of a coffee table piled high with cocaine, bindles, baggies and scales. The two officers cordially told everyone that they were under arrest and called for additional assistance. There was no screaming, yelling, crying, fighting or guns. Just because it is not something that makes sense to you doesn’t have much meaning in the context of criminal activity. You cannot know what happened if you were not there, and a police officer’s career should not be jeopardized based on a mere hunch. The integrity of criminal convictions demands that police, prosecutors and judges scrupulously do the right thing. I’m not sure how Judge Mader wishes to transform this system, but let the discussion begin.

Maureen Sprowles

La Canada Flintridge

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I do not believe that any law enforcement agency in California wants cops who lie. The oath an officer takes forbids it. Each time we testify, we hold our hand up and swear to tell the truth. Few, if any, police agencies track officers who lie when they testify in court. I believe internal affairs units must track what officers say in court, and when lies are uncovered, they must do all they can to remove the officer from law enforcement. We are as good as our word. And it always has to be good.

Gerry Roberts

Investigator

Orange County District Attorney

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What if there were a policy that a consent search waiver must be used by all police? Such written consent would leave little doubt as to who was telling the truth and go a long way toward restoring the public’s faith in the justice system.

John K. Dorwin

Buellton