Rampart Scandal

Paul Marks’ scenario of police corruption in the LAPD befuddles those who actually deliver police service to the public (Commentary, Dec. 20). Police corruption has never existed within the ranks of cops I have worked with. No matter how bad the crime was, how bad the degradation of neighborhoods became, how pungent the stink of old urine in the alleys was, the usual mantra for police officers has always been, “Hey, it’s job security, it’ll be there tomorrow.” There was never a political urgency “to do something” that prompted officers to engage in criminal activity to fight criminal activity. That urgency may have been at the bureaucrat’s level and is evidenced by plans that had stupid names like Operation Hammer.

The crooks at Rampart--Rafael Perez, et al.--were never cops. Yes, they wore a uniform and went through a police academy and received a badge, but they were crooks. People don’t change when they are in this job from good to evil. The public may dislike the crooks in this current police scandal, but cops hate them. Cops don’t hate the criminals they take to jail. But we do hate the ones who masquerade as one of us.

LT. MIKE MENZA

Hollywood Division, LAPD