Police Shootings in Los Angeles

I read with great interest your editorial “When Should a Cop Shoot?” (Feb. 18). The editorial noted that there was a major difference between New York and Los Angeles police officers in that Los Angeles police officers were twice as likely to use deadly force as New York police officers.

As a person who was a practicing attorney in both New York City and Los Angeles County, the reason for such disparity is easy to understand. In New York City, the minority groups have political clout; here in Los Angeles they do not. And most of the deadly force used by police in Los Angeles is in the minority communities.

Until the minorities have enough political “juice” to enable them to have meaningful input as to the selection of a chief of police or the sheriff of the county, the “restrained response” that you call for from law enforcement leaders will not arrive very quickly.

BURTON BACH

Ontario