SIS Controversy

* We want to express our admiration and gratitude to the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. On Feb. 25, Special Investigations Section officers were involved in a shooting in front of our home while attempting to apprehend four armed robbery suspects. Three of the suspects were killed and our home was hit by two rounds fired by officers. In the hours that followed, the officers and investigators displayed the deepest concern for the safety and well-being of our family and neighbors.

Some news organizations and activists were quick to condemn the tactics used by these officers. We disagree. It is easy to second-guess an officer who has to make a life-and-death decision in a split second. No one wants to see any human killed, but these suspects acted with callous disregard for human life. In our opinion, the officers reacted in a reasonable and prudent manner to the situation they faced. They are a credit to the department.

During the media interviews that followed, we felt that some interviewers wanted us to say that the officers had overreacted. We, however, view this differently. Had the officers not reacted, it is possible the gunmen could have fired their weapons, possibly killing an officer, rounds could have hit the home across the street, or the gunmen could have broken into a home and taken hostages. If any of this had occurred, the media would instead be chastising officers for not reacting quickly enough.

After the Feb. 28 Bank of America robbery, there should be no doubt that we have the finest Police Department in the United States. We have to let officers know that we think they are doing an outstanding job in difficult times. No matter who may criticize them, Los Angeles is a better place to live because they are there, holding the thin blue line. We know because we were there when someone tried to cross it.

DEBBIE and LARRY BELKIN

Northridge

* I want to support, acknowledge and say thank you to the LAPD SIS unit for permanently eradicating three urban terrorists in Northridge Feb. 25.

A sad reality in any war is that innocent victims get hurt. My prayers go out to Grover Smith.

It is outrageous that newsy spin masters want to show the LAPD in bad light by suggesting that the elite SIS unit is a band of reckless cowboys with itchy trigger fingers.

The newsy spin masters are creating the news, not reporting it. You guys go into your database of people on the left side of an issue, interview that person (like you don’t know what they are going to say!), then call that news.

All the members of the SIS unit deserve a medal for bravery.

DAN McCARTHY

Chatsworth

* I’ve just finished reading your article Feb. 28 on the SIS investigation (“FBI Opens Civil Rights Probe of SIS Shootings”) and I am incensed by the sympathetic slant.

Why were there no interviews with the victims of these crimes? Why didn’t I read a quote froHm one of the people who thought they were about to die when these thugs invaded the bar and waved their guns around? This article was a blatant case of opinions masquerading as journalism. In fact, the inside headline read: “SIS: Families Struggle With Deaths of Young Suspects.”

If The Times wants to do a feature piece on criminals’ families (which, in effect, is what a great deal of what this article was), they should put it where it belongs, on a features page.

TONY BLAKE

Encino

* Wake up L.A. and smell the gunpowder in your coffee. We have violent, gun-toting criminals living among us, and if you choose to live here, you will statistically be at some risk.

The LAPD has long been aware of this and has even gone so far as to do something about it. The SIS targets only violent criminals and their misdeeds. During their investigation, SIS members follow suspects (somehow a controversial tactic in L.A.) and, after observing that a crime has been committed, try to make a safe arrest. Los Angeles needs to support every unit in the Police Department or dismantle all of it, as each unit is an integral part of a bigger whole. These SIS officers are not faceless robots who shoot at everything that moves.

We must remember that as long as there are violent criminals running amok, there are going to be innocent lives at risk, and we should not be surprised when it affects us. I personally sleep better knowing that the SIS is out there.

ROBERT BOUGEON

Chatsworth