Police Panel Resignations

* The resignations of Enrique Hernandez Jr. and Gary Greenebaum from the Police Commission (June 30) should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the comedy of errors associated with the City Council trying to gain political control over the Police Department. Chief Willie Williams was handpicked by council members to assure their authority over the city’s top cop, and there is no way they would allow their yes-man to be hung out to dry on an easily covered-up scandal.

The fact that the chief was accused of lying and denying--a serious offense for any police officer--now appears to be of little concern to the council. What is important, however, is that appearances are kept up, even if it means trying to fool the good citizens of L.A. with an obvious shell game. Somehow I can’t imagine this happening with former Chief Daryl Gates.

FRED ROMERO, LAPD Retired

Simi Valley

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* How can anyone say with a straight face that the City Council’s action overriding the reprimand of Williams signals the death of reform of the LAPD? The people of this city decided through a ballot initiative to place the final authority relative to the chief of police with the mayor and the City Council. The performance of City Charter responsibilities cannot accurately be characterized as back-room politics or a death blow.

Further, the reform of the LAPD began in 1991 with one Los Angeles Police Commission of which I was a member and head along with the late Sam Williams and others. It was continued under another Board of Police Commissioners, with the significant contributions of Jesse Brewer and others, when the board selected a new chief of police (Williams) and began the implementation process for the Christopher Commission findings. This work continued through another administration and yet another Board of Police Commissioners.

It is absurd, therefore, not to mention the ultimate in egotism, to suggest that this long stream of dedicated service and commitment has ended before the agreed-upon agenda is completed. What was and remains the greatest danger to these reforms is politicizing the office of chief of police and destabilizing the department and its management over some petty, insignificant and contrived issue that has been widely recognized as having no merit. Let us remember that what is wrong with the LAPD has been years in the making and former Chief Gates was given 14 years at the job. Chief Williams should be given the time, resources and the support to continue and complete the transformation without micro-management from the Board of Police Commissioners and hidden agendas.

MELANIE E. LOMAX

Los Angeles

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* So Hernandez and Greenebaum feel that the City Council’s reversal of Williams’ reprimand was an affront to them and that that action prevents police reform. Give me a break! It sounds like a case of sour grapes and exaggerated sense of self-importance.

The council should be congratulated on bringing this non-issue to an end. Its decision not to review the commission’s findings avoided further turmoil and likely cost to the city, not to mention more hurt feelings when the illogic of it all was aired.

One wonders about the sense of those commission members who willingly went along with this political hatchet job to undermine this popular and hard-working chief. The turmoil they created--for something as inconsequential as a minor perk in Las Vegas--is naive and irresponsible. Their insistence that he “lied” can also be taken with a grain of salt, given their willingness to further the political agenda of the promoters of this entire issue.

EILEEN KELLY

Los Angeles