Selection of New L.A. Police Chief

* Contrary to Frank del Olmo’s contention (Commentary, Aug. 10), the Police Commission did not “single out four Latino police executives” for consideration. In fact, according to the City Charter, the Police Commission has no role in the selection of the six semifinalists. The first step in the process was that the city’s Personnel Department and an outside consultant, the Oldani Group, conducted the initial evaluation of 31 applicants. A completely diverse 10-member citizen Blue Ribbon Screening Committee (selected by the Personnel Department) reviewed the 31 applications and then interviewed and selected the six semifinalists. It was only after the screening committee certified the six semifinalists that the Police Commission assumed an active role in the selection process.

When voters overwhelmingly approved Prop. F in 1992, they eliminated Civil Service protection from the position of the LAPD chief. Accordingly, a “scoring system” no longer exists. Therefore, neither the screening committee nor the Police Commission could give any preferential treatment to any candidates--from inside or outside the LAPD.

To suggest that Chief Arturo Venegas was selected as a token Latino candidate is contrary to the facts. Of the six semifinalists, Venegas is the only person who runs a police department from a chief’s chair. He has sustained a stellar record of achievements over a four-year period in Sacramento, and he has impeccable credentials and integrity. He fully earned his place to be a finalist with LAPD Deputy Chiefs Bernard Parks and Mark Kroeker.

The long and arduous selection process for a new chief of police was extremely open, very public and highly competitive. It is my firm belief that any of the three finalists submitted by the Police Commission to Mayor Richard Riordan would have been a highly capable and successful chief.

EDITH R. PEREZ, President

Board of Police Commissioners

* Referring to the pathetic commentary, “Charting the Longevity of a Little Boy’s Love Affair With Men in Blue” (Aug. 18), why should the police have to earn the trust of small children, regardless of whether or not they are minorities? I grew up in New York, and we not only respected police, but saw nothing wrong with a healthy fear of cops. It has come to a sad day in Los Angeles, when we have to wait for Parks to prove himself before young people will respect him and obey the laws.

LINDA WALTER

Los Angeles