Enlarging L.A. Police Force

* While I understand Councilwoman Laura Chick’s concern about adding officers to the Los Angeles Police Department (Sept. 12), it would be a terrible mistake to slow down the expansion of the force. Now is the time to mobilize our resources: As the recent increase in gang killings indicates, we are in nothing less than a war to reclaim the streets of Los Angeles. I believe the Police Department can accelerate its training and recruitment while continuing to screen for racism and other undesirable qualities. And many of the “new” officers are already on the force--they will be simply be transferred from desk jobs to the streets as new hires take their place.

The Clinton Administration’s crime bill represents the best chance for Los Angeles to address the chronic shortage of officers on the force. L.A. is the most underpoliced major urban area in the United States. The city has one officer per 464 residents, as opposed to one officer per 221 residents in Chicago, and one officer per 237 residents in New York City.

I have been working closely with the Justice Department to ensure that L.A. gets its fair share of crime bill funds. Earlier this month the Administration awarded the Los Angeles Police Department $48 million to pay for 643 additional officers. We have to stick together so as not to undermine our case that Los Angeles must receive the full complement of crime bill money.

REP. HOWARD L. BERMAN

D-Panorama City

Berman is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.

* As a constituent of Councilwoman Chick, I am horrified and outraged by her desire to halt the expansion of the LAPD’s ranks because of her concerns that sexism and racism will not be adequately addressed in the recruitment process.

In the last two months, I have witnessed the immediate aftermath of two homicides right here in Chick’s district. The growing sense of fear in our streets is palpable. What is truly ironic is the fact that just several weeks ago, Chick grabbed headlines by declaring the City Council a bastion of sexism and sexual harassment. If she is really so intent on throwing out the baby with the bathwater, perhaps she should begin with herself and her council colleagues before making life less safe for the rest of us!

MICHAEL TREIMAN

Woodland Hills