Police Identification

* The article from [Harriet] Bilford (“Identity a Must in Police Matters,” Sept. 28) shows just how out of touch with reality some attorneys are. In the ideal, crime-free world that she apparently lives in, there would be no need for any police officer to be wary about disclosing his identity. However, the rest of society--citizens and officers--are a little less trusting. She seems a little bent out of shape because one of her friends was seemingly made indignant by an undercover officer who understandably did not want to jeopardize his safety or compromise the undercover operation he was involved in. Had her friend called the watch commander at the local station and inquired about the presence of an undercover officer at a certain location, I am sure that if there was a need to know and a right to know, the problem would have been taken care of.

What Bilford fails to relate is the hundreds of police officers who have been assaulted and killed, on or off duty, even after having identified themselves as officers. The death of Officer [Kevin] Gaines was a tragic incident that unfortunately happens all too often in Los Angeles. But as long as we have people like Bilford around, we will always have justice. If not, cash will do nicely.

BILL HEARD

Officer, LAPD Wilshire Division

Palmdale