Deputy Mayor

* In response to your editorial “Violante: Right Guy for the Job?” (July 2):

I too have serious reservations about the appointment of William C. Violante as one of Richard Riordan’s five deputy mayors. Yes, it does smack of being a payoff for support and possibly silence regarding the details of Riordan’s three arrests, but more important is the undermining of our new chief of police. After the disastrous relations between the Police Department and the last Administration, we do not need to be sending messages to the rank and file that our police chief is going to be monitored by “one of their own.”

Violante, as you so rightly point out, has not been consistent in his views on reforms and on the need for more police, and he has been less than diplomatic in his criticisms of Chief Willie L. Williams. I hope we do not lose Williams because of this tactless appointment.

THERESA H. McGOWAN

Los Angeles

* Violante is a welcome addition to Mayor Riordan’s Cabinet, despite the objections of Williams. I feel that Williams has done nothing to boost the morale of his officers and what Los Angeles doesn’t need is a demoralized and dysfunctional force with the ever-increasing crime rate. I am confident that most officers would give Williams a no-confidence vote if such a survey would be conducted with anonymity.

PHILLIP A. PILGRAM

Glendale

* The very thought of Los Angeles returning to the law enforcement practices and LAPD tactics prior to Chief Williams makes me shudder. To appoint someone like Violante as deputy mayor leads one to assume Riordan’s next act will be to appoint (former Chief) Daryl Gates president of the Police Commission.

JOHN ViDAHL

Los Angeles