The Region - News from Oct. 16, 1985

The president of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners vowed to carefully consider a proposed Police Department regulation by which officers could be fined or even fired for criticizing the department’s administration. President Robert M. Talcott said commissioners had not yet seen the proposal, which The Times detailed last week. “But you can rest assured that this board . . . will not adopt any rule or regulation that in any way infringes upon individuals’ First Amendment rights to express comments with respect to the department,” Talcott said. Police Chief Daryl F. Gates has conceded that the proposed regulation may pose an “infringement of people’s rights,” but he also has said that such a regulation may be necessary to maintain department morale and efficiency.