“the news behind the news”
337 Washington Blvd., Suite #1, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 Tel. 310-822-4449 FAX 310-822-4577
TO: Claudia Luther, Op-Ed Page Editor
FROM: Leslie Dutton, Producer/Host, 310-822-4449 or 310-306-0301
DATE: October 1, 2002
RE: COMMENTARY SUBMISSION (for Exclusive use by the L.A. Times)
ONE TERM FOR LAPD CHIEFS?
BY Leslie Dutton, (Producer/Host Full Disclosure Network® )
How could it be, the last two Los Angeles Police Chiefs were both hailed by our city fathers as “highly qualified ” and then just four short years later they were deemed unqualified, incompetent or worse? What could possibly bring about this change in characterization of two highly regarded Police officials so quickly?
In the name of Charter reform, Proposition “F” (1993) enacted a new process for selection of and reappointment of a Chief. Vast opportunities became available for political and special interest forces to influence the Los Angeles Police Department. Our last two Chiefs were ushered out the door in an atmosphere void of reason and fairness. Jostling for political position was paramount as organized labor flexed its muscle in the race for Mayor, City Council and the Chief reappointment/selection process.
Our current Mayor recently promised “I will select the candidate who best embodies the qualities and qualifications needed to make Los Angeles the safest big city in the nation.” Yet, he cited low officer morale and recruitment as major problems facing the LAPD. One has to wonder if anyone has stopped to consider rather than the Chief, the problems may be caused by politicization of the Department overall?
Perhaps it is time we take a reality check and admit the process is political. Is it fair to expect the next Chief to be a strong leader, knowing full well any reappointment would be doomed without accommodations to special interests? These are the very interests who used their power to remove and select the last two Chiefs. It is altogether likely that under the current process, the LAPD may never have a Chief of Police who is reappointed to a second term.
Over the past ten years Emmy Award-winning Full Disclosure Network® Producer/Host, Leslie Dutton interviewed all Los Angeles Police Chiefs from Ed Davis to Bernard Parks. On June 29, 2002 the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented her with the Emmy for the local series entitled Full Disclosure Network® :“L.A.’s War Against Terrorism” which investigated local and regional anti-terrorism measures in the wake of 9/11 and featured interviews with local law enforcement officials. |
