Waiting for Help

* During a recent congressional recess, I served as a juror on a case which illustrated for me the terrible problem of crime in the San Fernando Valley. The defendant in my case was convicted of a brutal rape. The victim called 911 for help. But it took 40 minutes for the police to respond.

This is appalling. L.A. has the fewest police per capita of any large city in America. At any one time, no more than 150 officers patrol the San Fernando Valley.

I led the fight for the Cops on the Beat Program that provides funding for understaffed urban police departments to increase the number of on-the-street patrol officers. This year L.A. received $66.3 million to add 643 officers, improve its 911 technology and transfer more officers from clerical work to patrol duties. But L.A. government has not yet responded. Only 27 additional police officers have been added to street patrol! The city must recruit and train new officers and get them on the streets--now. The city has the money. There is no excuse.

REP. HOWARD L. BERMAN

D-Panorama City