Funds for L.A. Police Department

Re “Parks Seeks $9 Million to Fix LAPD Corruption,” Feb. 6: It never ceases to amaze me that the only way to solve a problem according to politicians is to put more good money after bad. Examples abound. Now we see the ultimate. Police Chief Bernard Parks thinks that he needs $9 million to solve the Rampart problem. Is that true? Does this remind anyone of our public school system (it is heartening to see that our interim school chief finally sees fit to fire someone).

While Parks did not spell out how he intends to use the money to solve the problem, I’d like to remind him that this is not a money issue. This is a management issue, pure and simple. He has failed miserably in providing the leadership and to set the standard both as chief and deputy chief prior to becoming the chief.

GILBERT TSAO

Los Angeles

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Re “Glorifying Cops Feeds a Culture of Crime Hysteria,” Commentary, Feb. 4: Alexander Cockburn’s assault on law enforcement is a character assassination, cynical and extreme. He attributes the worst actions of a few as examples of the actions of the many.

The current system took generations to build. It is an imperfect system, but that is not a justification to malign the motivations and contributions of thousands of hard-working police officers. His column is malicious and his trivialization of the law enforcement experience is uninformed.

He ignores the fact that the police profession is the only occupation, with the exception of the military, where officers routinely confront hostile people who may want to kill them. Police officers walk where columnists fear to tread. They move to the sound of the guns.

SGT. DANIEL WITMAN

LAPD Central Division

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I was a sheriff’s deputy and sergeant for more than 28 years and worked at several of the ghetto stations. I don’t know much about Cockburn, but his article is exceedingly accurate.

ED KIRSTE

Whittier