Rodney King

* I’m fed up and outraged about the Rodney King award of $3.8 million (April 20). I did not support the police methods used on King, nor am I sympathetic to any form of racism, but I must state that the jury trial system has gone berserk!

King is a repeated lawbreaker, and now I’m expected to pay (in part) for the actions of a bunch of idiots. The fair thing to do would have been to pay for all of King’s medical treatments, and for his lawyers to be limited to seeking compensation from the officers who did the beating and their boss, the police chief.

Instead, we have a system that can’t even convict two self-admitted murderers of their parents, and now gives away millions at the expense of law-abiding, innocent taxpayers. Are we completely stupid? Have we given up the common good and surrendered to the twisted agenda of greedy lawyers?

FRANK BRUNNER

Northridge

* This is in response to your article about a jury awarding a man under the influence who was violating his parole (Rodney King) $3.8 million, followed by your description of 14 other police-related city settlements made since 1988.

In the last 6 1/2 years there have been thousands of difficult and danger-fraught incidents every month that police competently responded to when citizens broke the law. Where is the recognition and acclaim we ought to be giving these officers in blue for a consistent and professional job well done? Why is there not a resounding cry of thanks to the LAPD who “protect and serve” and risk their lives as a matter of daily course?

Enough with the finger-pointing at the relatively infrequent moments of error. Let us all keep in perspective how much good is accomplished, compared to the minimum of mistakes that tragically occur.

JODY CLARK

Los Angeles