An Improved Policy in Anaheim

Anaheim police and city have declared that all’s well, despite questions about the early police response to an accident that killed a tourist at Disneyland on Christmas Eve. Real questions are likely to remain, especially in view of the inadequate scope of police interviewing that since came to light. But in recent days, the city also has sent an important message that it intends to do things differently.

It has been three weeks since the fatal docking accident at the sailing ship Columbia. Whatever Anaheim learns from the experience, the accident ought to prompt some state reform. It reestablished a need for state oversight of amusement parks, and led to renewed calls for state legislation to require safety inspections. Assemblyman Tom Torlakson’s (D-Antioch) effort to revive a bill opposed by the amusement park industry deserves support.

In the meantime, Anaheim has been taking some needed steps to tighten its own procedures for investigating such accidents. The city’s police command sent some conflicting signals along the way: There was the acknowledgment from Det. Capt. Roger Baker, the top police detective, that his investigators should have reached the scene earlier. But a day earlier, Police Chief Randall Gaston said it would be counterproductive to rush to the scene, and in a report to the city, he said officers believed it was better to be briefed first by Disneyland staff. The revelation last week that police did not interview any independent eyewitnesses did little to clarify matters.

At least it was significant that city officials beyond the Police Department wanted to review the matter at all. City Manager James D. Ruth properly sought to know more about the response. High-level attention has meant a needed revisiting of procedures. On Jan. 9, Gaston said he and his commanders had informed park officials that police would take immediate control of major incidents at the park in the future. He said Disneyland officials should leave major scenes undisturbed.

This tightening of policy is welcome. It puts the department in step with other law enforcement agencies that recognize the importance of securing the area of an accident or crime immediately, locating witnesses and making sure that evidence isn’t disturbed.