Gates Assails Reform Measure in Wilmington Speech

Though remaining noncommittal about his political future, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates urged Wilmington homeowners to reject a June 2 ballot measure that would drastically alter the selection process and tenure of his successor.

At the same time, Gates continued to rail against the inspiration for that ballot measure--last year’s Christopher Commission report that was critical of the LAPD’s hiring, training and discipline.

“If you want to know why I dislike the Christopher Commission report, it’s very simple. Frankly, I think they did a lousy job,” Gates told a crowd of about 200 residents at a meeting of the Wilmington Home Owners group last week. The commission, impaneled after the March 3, 1991, beating of motorist Rodney G. King, ignored many of the LAPD reforms under way when that incident occurred, he said.

Moreover, Gates argued that the commission’s report will haunt the city and taxpayers for years to come. “It has already become the guide for those who want to sue the city, and when they are suing the city, they are suing you,” he told the crowd at Banning Park Recreation Center.

Gates’ one-hour appearance before the Wilmington residents was his third in just over a year. And as before, it was marked by an overwhelmingly warm reception.

Gates attacked the pending ballot measure that would remove Civil Service protection for the police chief and place a limit of two five-year terms on his successor’s tenure. The measure also would give the civilian Police Commission more authority over the LAPD.

Though supporters of the proposed City Charter amendment argue that it would bring long-needed accountability to the department, Gates countered that it would do just the opposite. He said the measure would make the chief a servant of City Hall and the entire 8,300-officer department accountable to politicians.

“If you get that charter amendment, don’t invite the (next) chief to talk to you because the chief isn’t going to talk. . . . He will not be able to speak,” said Gates, who has announced plans to retire after the June election.

“You have heard of the movie ‘(Silence) of the Lambs?’ Well, this whole thing will be ‘Silencing of the Chief,’ ” Gates said. “And if you say to yourself, ‘Oh, I don’t care how the chief is selected’ . . . think about the police officers that you know. Because if they can manipulate the chief of police, they can manipulate every single officer.”

Though Gates won applause from most in the audience, one homeowner, Susan Elias, challenged him. Her criticism came during a question-and-answer session in which Gates referred to the King beating as “that little incident . . . that caused me a little heartburn.”

“I’m not a tremendous fan of yours,” Elias, 49, told Gates, adding that she was “appalled” by the King beating and the Christopher Commission’s findings of “racism” in the LAPD. Elias said she did not want the chief to leave without knowing that some Wilmington residents have concerns about him and his department.

“We are well aware that we have people who do not do everything the way they ought to be doing it,” Gates said later. “Sometimes, it is very egregious, sometimes it is very serious. And we do our best to rid the department, rid the community, of officers who mistreat anyone.”

Before the meeting ended, Gates won applause for last week’s opening of a substation in Wilmington. And several times, he was urged by residents to run for Los Angeles mayor.

But as he has for months, Gates continued to say that he would not make that bid until--and unless--another suitable candidate does not step forward. And if he does seek the post, Gates said, Wilmington “will be my first campaign stop, I promise.”