Rampart Convictions’ Effects on Police

* Joseph Paggi’s division of Los Angeles residents into “violent and lawless gangsters” and “law-abiding citizens”is exactly the attitude that got the Rampart cops into trouble (letter, Nov. 19). The Bill of Rights in this country applies to all. It is not for police officers to personally decide who is “good,” and therefore must be treated according to constitutional law, and who is “bad” and can therefore be deprived of his civil rights. It is hypocritical for police officers to see themselves as above the law and therefore entitled to violate it when convenient.

MARCY ALWAILI

Sylmar

*

“The Cold, Clear Call of Duty” by Al Martinez (Nov. 19) is representative of the cold, clear slap in the face that LAPD officers have been receiving daily. Ted Hunt, head of the Police Protective League, was right on the mark if he was the one who said the cops’ ability to do their jobs would be adversely affected by the verdicts of the three Rampart officers. Not because cops support obstructing justice, filing false reports, hatred of minorities or any other such nonsense, as Martinez infers. The convictions would adversely affect the cops’ ability to do their jobs because most cops strongly feel that these officers are being railroaded on the word of a thief and liar, Rafael Perez. All criminal cases, regardless of merit, that Perez may have been remotely involved in when he was acting as a police officer are thrown out in the interest of justice. However, let Perez bear false witness against officers he is not fond of and a show trial results.

This does adversely affect cops on the beat. Not for fear of getting caught in a wrongdoing, but of becoming a sacrificial lamb to a thirsty inquisition.

MIKE MENZA

La Habra

*

The Nov. 20 commentary by Mitzi Grasso of the Police Protective League is typical of the problem with police officers nationwide.

They do not effectively police their own ranks, and when it has to be done for them they scream foul. Clean up your house, or the public will do it for you.

LUCIUS G. JOHNSON

Pomona