LAPD’s Secretive Investigations Unit: Watching as Suspects Commit Crimes

As a retired Los Angeles policeman who has “been there,” I would like to comment on The Times “LAPD’s Secretive SIS Unit: Citizens Terrorized as Police Look On” (Part I, Sept. 25).

The Special Investigations Section of the Los Angeles Police Department was formed in 1965 in response to decisions handed down by courts limiting “probable cause” in arrests and the seizure of admissible evidence.

With the limiting of police power to arrest and search, the LAPD, like all other departments, was looking for an answer to the problem of lost cases due to the premature arrest of suspected criminals. Thus SIS was born of the “cause and effect” syndrome of the judicial system.

From 1970 to 1980 I was assigned to the bank robbery section of the Robbery-Homicide Division. I utilized the SIS unit when circumstances called for its expertise.

Indeed, I was one of only a few “outsiders” not assigned to the unit allowed to ride on surveillance. I was continually amazed at the know-how and courage of these men who did an outstanding job under incredible pressure. As a case in point, I was the case detective on the William Garrett incident mentioned in your article.

When several banks were robbed by the same suspect in the San Fernando Valley, we were presented with the common problem of trying to identify a suspect who wore disguises to prevent detection. One of my colleagues remembered a past suspect who used a similar method. It was Garrett and he had been paroled just prior to our series of robberies.

The fact that he was living in Pismo Beach, a long way from the Valley, presented doubts as to his involvement. Nevertheless, my partner and I and several FBI agents journeyed north. We followed him south on Highway 101 to the Los Angeles city limits at which time we were joined by officers of SIS.

Prior to robbing the savings and loan that day, and his subsequent fatal wounding, he covered his vehicles rear license plate, put on a wig and sunglasses, pulled on additional clothing and retrieved a covered and unidentifiable object from his vehicle trunk, not a recognizable weapon as you reported. None of these actions would justify his arrest under the probable cause and search and seizure rules in current use.

Contrary to your report, I was personally involved in numerous instances with SIS where arrests were made prior to a crime occurring.

Contrary to your coloring SIS officers as callous killers, I found them to be made of all the parts as other LAPD officers--a mixture of courage, pride, duty and honor, forced to do a tough job to the best of their ability. No timid cops need apply.

KEN SMITH

Palm Springs