Curbing Federal Police Power

* Re “It’s Time to Handcuff the Police,” Column Right, April 26:

Catherine M. Farmer’s protestations about the expansion of federal police power ring a bit hollow. She’s correct as far as she goes, but what she fails to note is that she and her fellow conservatives are the ones responsible for this state. For years, they have been accusing liberals of being “soft on crime” for worrying about civil liberties. Federalizing every offense on the books; throwing ever more money at police agencies; championing the “rights” of victims; milking every sensational crime for its political value--this is what has led to the problems Farmer complains of, but they are not the acts of liberals. It was not liberals who appointed the federal judges who excuse virtually every police offense against the Constitution as “harmless error.” It was not liberals who defended the beating of Rodney King, telling police they could get away with such atrocities.

Conservatives have supported virtually every instance of police overreaching, because up to now these acts have been directed against minorities and “malcontents.” Civil libertarians have always defended their support of the rights of criminal defendants by saying that those same rights are supposed to protect everyone. Maybe now the conservatives get it? A loud “I told you so” is in order.

THOMAS W. OVERTON

Los Angeles

* Farmer’s column is so full of extremist ranting that it’s hard to believe you published it. For one thing, both Randy Weaver and the Waco wackos chose to keep their families in harm’s way, refusing to permit them safe passage out of deathtraps that they created. I am glad that President Clinton has started a national dialogue on what constitutes civil discourse, and I hope you will refrain from printing any more paranoid ravings of extremists, both on the left and right.

DANIEL HOVEY

Pacific Palisades

* Thank you for Farmer’s column. I think it needs to be stated that it is not just the far right that harbors suspicion and fear of the U.S. government.

For example, Native American leader Leonard Peltier has been rotting in federal prison for 18 years for crimes that both the presiding judge and prosecuting attorney admit he never committed. Peltier remains in prison strictly at the behest of the FBI that framed him.

The Waco incident shows how easily the government can manipulate the media. During the entire 51-day siege, reporters were kept two miles away from the site. All information was handled by federal authorities.

These kinds of actions go as far back as Wounded Knee. Not 1973 but 1890. Many moderates as well as conservatives believe there is a tremendous disparity between what government presents itself to be and what it actually is. Loss of freedom is not beginning now. It began decades ago.

RICK DUNKERLY

Whittier