PERSPECTIVE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT : Give Chief Williams the Tools He Needs

Sometimes there comes along someone like Chief Willie L. Williams: an individual who has the capacity to swim against the tides of adversity, hostility and inadequate financial support to ultimately achieve more good for society (and with more graciousness and toughness) than any of us have the right to expect . . . .

I know that many of you, the citizens of Los Angeles and all other Americans, have some anxiety about this city and this nation’s future. I also know that many of you may have come to rest upon Willie Williams your hopes and your dreams for a better and more just Los Angeles. But, respectfully, I submit that the fundamental question is not whether Willie Williams can succeed in reforming this Police Department and in healing this city.

Chief Williams has already proved that he possesses those qualities of leadership and talent to discharge any reasonable task you may place before him. Instead, the fundamental questions is whether the responsible persons of this community will give to him and his colleagues the very substantial financial, political and civic backing they will need to establish a Police Department that is fair, competent, efficient, responsive, responsible and accountable.

Simply put, if you are going to make Willie Williams responsible for making law enforcement more just and fair in this city, are you also going to give him the tools that he will need to carry on that responsibility--namely, financial, political and civic support?