LOS ANGELES : Gates Joins KFI Radio as Host of Talk Show

In a surprise move, former Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates took to the radio airwaves Tuesday as an afternoon talk-show host at KFI-AM (640).

Gates, who retired in June, replaced Tom Leykis, who was fired despite his presiding over the top-rated afternoon news-talk program.

KFI General Manager Howard Neal would not comment on Leykis’ dismissal except to hint at financial and personality differences: “Decisions like that are never based on a single issue. I look at running the radio station as a business, and when I think that I have a business opportunity and when there are issues that I know I can’t deliver on with (on-air) talents, then you look for alternatives.”

Neal announced tersely at 3 p.m. that Gates would be the host weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m., touching off a flood of calls from surprised and angry listeners.

“They asked me if I would come back and I said yes,” Gates later said on the air. “I’ve been in public life for 43 years, and I’m really enjoying this opportunity to speak out.”

Meanwhile, Leykis expressed shock at his dismissal. “I’m stunned,” he said. “I had no reason to believe this was coming. . . . My goal is to be back on the air in time to talk about the election.”

KFI officials insisted that Gates will be their permanent afternoon host, although they did not deny reports in radio trade publications that a pair of New Jersey radio personalities have been hired to begin working in November.