Proposed Curbs on LAPD Fought : Law enforcement: Chief Gates argues against restrictions on working with immigration officials.

Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates objected Monday to proposed curbs on cooperation between police and immigration authorities, saying the restrictions “would seriously endanger our ability to ensure public safety in the city.”

The council’s proposal includes limits on cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, which Gates said would affect the department’s Anti-Terrorist Division.

In a letter made public at a meeting of the Council’s Public Safety Committee, Gates also objected to a provision that would bar any police cooperation with an INS investigation, detention or arrest except in service of a search or arrest warrant or in cases in which police believe that the suspect has committed a felony.

“While I understand the committee’s concerns as expressed in the proposed procedures,” Gates said, “I believe all residents of Los Angeles are best served when its Police Department is able to work cooperatively with all segments of government to provide for the public’s safety.”

The proposed guidelines would prevent the LAPD from initiating any action on the basis of an individual’s immigration status. Cooperation with any foreign government’s investigation of immigrants would also be prohibited, unless the immigrant was suspected of having violated federal, state or local laws.

Immigrant rights groups and council members Michael Woo and Richard Alatorre called for the new guidelines after two recent incidents in which police have rescued immigrants from the hands of smugglers demanding ransom, only to turn the hostages over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for deportation.

Alatorre said the proposed policy would help curb what he called a rash of unreported crimes against immigrants. “Those crimes go unreported for one simple reason--people are afraid of being turned over to the INS,” Alatorre said after the meeting.

In response to Gates’ objections, Alatorre made minor changes in the wording of some of the proposed amendments to department policy. Deputy Chief William Rathburn told the committee that the department had not yet reviewed the amended proposal.

To give the Police Department time to respond to the amendments, the committee then forwarded the proposed policy to the full council without recommendation. The council is expected to consider the measure in a week or two, Alatorre said.

Alatorre said Monday he expected some council members to oppose the measure. He said he would meet with LAPD Assistant Chief Robert Vernon this week in an attempt to reach a compromise on the issue.