Residence of LAPD Officers

* I was chagrined to read the ACLU’s report announcing that it has found something new that is terribly wrong in the Los Angeles Police Department, since so many of us live outside the city (March 29). We don’t need to be beat up and criticized any more. Can the ACLU find nothing about us that it likes?

Then, I was relieved and pleased to read your editorial (March 30). You got it exactly right: Residence is not an issue, especially not in Southern California. The issue in all of public service--not just law enforcement--is attitude.

Recently assigned as the commanding officer in the North Hollywood area, I have been only pleased at the relationship that has developed here between the police and the community. Many officers live long distances away, yet spend extra hours here serving their community because they have a stake here. My senior lead officers say they have difficulty saying “no” to anything “their people” ask of them. The level of caring and concern here is genuine, and it flows both ways. The outpouring of support and encouragement from our community is continuous.

The people in the North Hollywood area are doing much to improve their community and the service their police officers are able to provide. Your editorial has also helped, since it has taken some of the “sting” away from the ACLU report. I can’t think of anything the ACLU has ever done to help the police, even a little.

RICHARD D. WAHLER, Captain

Commanding Officer, North Hollywood Area

* I believe that your editorial is right on point. I have had the opportunity to observe and work with hundreds of officers during my 22 years with the LAPD. You will not find a more dedicated collection of officers than those who work each and every day to protect the Los Angeles community. Most of our officers spend more time providing service to the city’s diverse communities than they spend with their own families.

I cannot speak for the members of the ACLU and the neighborhoods in which they live, but most of our officers live in very diverse communities. I was personally insulted when the ACLU made the statement that many officers live in suburban white areas. I do not live in the city but my neighbors come in all colors and from around the world. My neighbors are black, Hispanic, Chinese and white. My children play with the greatest cross section of cultures that I could ask for. I do not think that I find myself in a unique situation. Our officers do live in very diverse communities.

Next October, members of the community I serve will be participating in Operation Sparkle. I challenge members of the ACLU to join with me and other dedicated officers to make our community a better place.

PAUL S. PESQUEIRA, Captain

Commanding Officer, 77th Street Station

* I write this letter with reluctance and with a heavy heart. The reluctance comes from a resolve never to write a letter to The Times again. The heavy heart comes from sitting on the sidelines watching my LAPD family being torn asunder and no one to speak for it. Each day brings a new revelation, a new attack, a new slight. They come from every direction, particularly from the single-mindedness of special interest groups, the vindictiveness of long-prejudiced community activists, the pettiness of shortsighted political leadership and from the failure of department leadership to take a stand in defense of the most dedicated professional work force ever assembled within one organization.

Whether it is another “inside” b.s. story regarding sexual harassment, or criticism of where officers choose to live, and raise their families, or a replay of the overplayed Rodney King video on the 6 o’clock news makes little difference in the demoralizing impact on our officers.

Take it from this old chief. Good people, your Police Department is in a state of crisis. You have already lost a big chunk and are in peril of losing the rest of this city’s great treasure--the LAPD. Pride, morale, spirit, enthusiasm and confidence in leadership are at a shockingly low level within the ranks. These fine men and women want desperately to serve this city with distinction, to prove once again that their excellent performance is incomparable. Stand up for the good men and women of LAPD! For starters, you can tell our new mayor, whom you elected to make the city safe and prosperous, to continue with negotiations and make his contract offer and modest pay raise a reality. You can let council members know that you are tired of the petty criticism of the LAPD. Certainly you want reform when really necessary and not just for appearances and you want people’s rights protected, but you also want your neighborhoods protected by enthusiastic, spirited cops who want to go to work again. You want cops to know they will be supported reasonably, judiciously and fairly if, while acting in good faith, they make a mistake of judgment as a result of a split-second decision.

Please join me and shout down those who unnecessarily and unreasonably attack the integrity of all officers over the missteps of a very few. The city’s finances may or may not allow additional police officers to be hired in the future, but right now it is imperative that we preserve the dignity and sense of self-worth of those officers we now have.

DARYL F. GATES

Los Angeles