Widening Probe of Police Scandal

I totally agree that the Justice Department should investigate the ever-widening LAPD scandal (“FBI Launches Probe Into Rampart Scandal,” Feb. 24). The Los Angeles Police Department and Police Commission have proven themselves incapable when it comes to investigating police misconduct. The district attorney’s office has also been lax in investigating such misconduct. Gil Garcetti has proven in the past that he is not above using a criminal case to boost his political aspirations and I suspect, if left to their own devices, his office will drag this investigation out so that he can use it for his reelection campaign.

We need a Justice Department investigation to get to the facts and then to require improvements in the system that allowed and perhaps condoned such actions. We need to clean house in the LAPD and turn it into an organization our good officers can be proud of and that our citizens can feel pride and confidence in.

SUSAN ALEXANDER

Shadow Hills

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Re “Rampart Set Up Latinos to Be Deported, INS Says,” Feb. 24:

I am at a complete loss to understand how members of the U.S. government’s Immigration and Naturalization Service can go to The Times and cry about everyone’s current favorite whipping boy, the LAPD, for bringing them persons who were in the U.S. illegally.

The article mentions 200 individuals who were seized. The INS deported approximately 160 after they were given their due process, while the other 40 were imprisoned because they had committed a felony by reentering the country illegally. A 100% conviction rate! What’s the problem?

If any of these brave INS agents, none of whom allowed themselves to be identified in the article, were aware that LAPD officers were conducting illegal sweeps for undocumented aliens, they should have complained to the chief of police immediately. Instead, they kept quiet and actually participated in the process. If any of these timid agents or their supervisors had done their jobs, they would have nothing to complain about.

PAUL MIZE

West Covina

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The mere suggestion that a 20-day suspension for Capt. Richard Meraz (Feb. 22), the commander of the controversial CRASH anti-gang unit at Rampart, is too severe is a joke. If the police are empowered with laws that can give people 25 years to life for stealing a loaf of bread, they should also accept stiff sentences when they have committed wrongs. Twenty days of suspension is nothing compared to the many years in prison innocent people received because they were framed by officers under Meraz’s command.

DOUG KIESO

Los Angeles

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How dare Mayor Richard Riordan even think of, let alone suggest, that the funds from the tobacco settlement be used to clear up the mess created by the scandalous and corrupt behavior of our Police Department (Feb. 18)? This money belongs to the people of Los Angeles for the desperately needed health services and preventive health measures for which it is intended. To which private entity does he intend to turn over the management of this huge amount of money? Is he laying the groundwork for another scandal?

Why should desperately needed programs in tobacco education, drug rehabilitation, mental health services and hospital care, for example, be sacrificed for remedying the self-created problems of our police? Perhaps we should come up with a creative solution that would require the Police Department to assume responsibility and liability for its egregious behavior.

MADELINE DeANTONIO

Encino

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Riordan’s proposal seems misplaced. Offering to pay LAPD’s bills without any strings attached is not in the spirit of police reform. If anything, a tobacco bailout will encourage more police corruption--a true “moral hazard.”

The problem with the Riordan proposal and the LAPD in general is that there is not enough accountability and credibility in the status quo. The Christopher Commission came to a similar conclusion in the wake of the Rodney King beating.

DANIEL BARKLEY

Irvine

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If any judgments against Los Angeles arising from the Rampart (and other) scandals were to be paid from the police retirement fund, would it encourage members of the police force to stop such actions by other policemen?

GILBERT BROWN

Palm Springs

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It is obvious to me that the LAPD scandal is mayhem at its best. The officers involved committed vile and vicious improprieties under color of authority while on duty and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Chief Bernard Parks and his closest advisors should be summarily fired for incompetence and dereliction of duty. It appears that it is the only redemption left to the tarnished image of a fine organization.

ROGER FERNANDEZ

Chino Hills

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Andrew Wortman (letter, Feb. 22) stated that Chief Parks blames LAPD problems on inadequate supervision, and Parks should be held responsible for actions of his subordinates. This happened during Chief Willie Williams’ term as chief. Now Parks is trying to clean this up. Way to go, Parks.

JOHN NELSON

Northridge

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Re “This Is What You Get When Men Rule Roost,” Commentary, Feb. 18: Katherine Spillar and former Chief Penny Harrington conclude their article by posing the question, “Maybe boys will be boys, but should we allow them to be cops?” To me this sounds like John Rocker in skirts, but perhaps it is only a case of girls will be girls.

Wouldn’t we all be better off if the LAPD focused on hiring qualified people and let go of irrelevant (and illegal) criteria like gender?

TIMOTHY K. SCANLAN

Duarte