Police Department’s Response to Bomb Hoax

After 32 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, I sometimes find myself taking for granted the almost unbelievable job the men and women of this agency do in providing police services to Los Angeles. Fortunately, incidents such as occurred on Jan. 25, when a distraught businessman parked a truck that reportedly contained 5,000 pounds of explosives on a Hollywood street (Jan. 25), quickly reaffirm my belief that the city is blessed with one of the finest and most efficient police departments in the world.

Upon my arrival at the command post, my attention was first drawn to a group of seasoned detectives, who had begun developing critical background information on the suspect. This information would prove to be vital to the crisis negotiation team, who ultimately talked the suspect into surrendering. I was then advised that Hollywood uniformed officers, assisted by officers responding to the citywide tactical alert, had undertaken the monumental task of evacuating hundreds of people out of the potential impact area. Despite a constant driving rain, the officers diligently completed their mission.

I then focused on the SWAT officers, who were gathered to plot the delicate and highly dangerous plan to approach the truck and take the suspect into custody. The SWAT team members executed their operational plan with precision and were able to neutralize the suspect without injury to him, themselves, or any member of the community. In the midst of this organized chaos, I noted several members of the bomb squad quietly going about the task of developing a plan to defuse the potentially devastating explosive device. Once the suspect had been taken into custody, the bomb squad members, using sophisticated technology, successfully made entry and rendered the truck safe.

The men and women of the LAPD, including the nearly 3,000 civilian employees, are truly dedicated to providing highly professional, compassionate police service to this community.

FRANK E. PIERSOL

Assistant Chief, LAPD

* Abram Nacham and his family will get no sympathy from me (Jan. 27). Mine is wholly engaged by the experience of watching my crippled 83-year-old mother being evacuated down three flights of stairs with her walker, medicine bottles and cat carriers in the rain after hours of anxiety. She at least had help and was on her feet. Think of the people worse off. “Not a criminal . . . wouldn’t hurt anybody . . . injustice.” Oh really? Those words apply to my mother and others like her--not to Nacham.

LINDA KAY

Los Angeles