L.A. County Sheriff’s Race

Re “Baker for Sheriff,” editorial, May 21: Bill Baker and I rode radio car together in the mid-’60s, during the time of turmoil and civil unrest. Our station was Firestone (Watts, Willowbrook), the busiest and toughest in the county. My opinion is that he was by far the best officer I had contact with. He exhibited all of the characteristics you would want in our top law enforcement officer. He is highly intelligent, energetic and articulate, and he is a leader with very high ethical standards.

PHILIP G. DeCARION, Newport Beach

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So The Times has come out against Sheriff Sherman Block in the forthcoming election due to “problems,” brought to light by The Times, in one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the nation. I wonder, would the other candidates have found such problems before they surfaced? I doubt it. Let’s give the sheriff credit for running such a sizable organization and taking care of numerous problems you are not aware of or can’t even imagine.

ELMER A. OMOHUNDRO JR., Diamond Bar

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I question your endorsement of Baker for L.A. County sheriff. Where other candidates have worked hard to become sheriff, Baker has basically sat on the sidelines and cast aspersions but no light. He has no platform, no goals, no real experience.

Block has weathered the Kolts Commission, the L.A. riots, budget battles and attacks from The Times; yet he managed to come in under budget this year and secure a raise for his deputies.

REBECCA HARPER, Huntington Beach

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While The Times’ endorsement of Baker appears to have some merit, it falls short of pointing to the answer for getting the best candidate available. As you pointed out, the job offers good compensation, requires top management skills and is recognized nationally as a prestigious law enforcement post. Then why not advocate a change in the law to make it appointive, using a select committee, as is done for the police chief positions in the largest California cities? That would avoid the internecine warfare--so damaging to the department--that we’ve seen within the ranks lately, as well as allow for nationwide competition by top talent.

FRED NATHAN, San Diego