Support for
Haya El Nasser;Sally Ann Stewart
FINAL
Page 03A
(Copyright 1991)
LOS ANGELES - Lingering support for Police Chief Daryl Gates to stay on
appeared to crumble Wednesday as even some staunch allies indicated he should
turn in his badge.
The Christopher Commission's recommendation Tuesday that Gates end his 13
years as chief touched off calls to Gates from powerful voices in southern
The 228-page report - sparked by the March 3 videotaped beating of Rodney
King by police officers - said racism, sexism, excessive force and lax discipline
plague the department and changes are needed - from the top down.
The commission also released an 83-page addendum listing hundreds of
computer messages sent by on-duty cops to fellow officers. Examples:
- ``Did you arrest the 85-yr old lady or just beat her up.''
- ``Nothing but wetbacks no speaky English and ugly.''
``I do intend to be
in touch with him,'' said John Arguelles, retired
Supreme Court justice and a Gates-appointed member of the Christopher
Commission. ``I consider myself a friend. I'm going to comment upon the report
and the reasons for our recommendations. I don't know what his reaction will be.
He's a strong-willed man.''
Indeed, Gates gave a typical - albeit less strident - reaction to the commission's
recommendation that the search for a new chief begin now.
He hinted that he would leave only if voters approved a term limit for police
chiefs, a move not likely to happen before the next regular election in June 1992.
``Then the people will have spoken and that will say volumes to me,'' Gates said.
A special election could be held sooner but is not a popular choice because of the
expense.
Joe Scott, publisher of the political newsletter California Eye, said peer pressure
is the best bet to send Gates home.
``The only way to get him out is if he starts to get calls from people in the
business community, from wealthy Republicans who are traditionally in his
corner,'' Scott said Wednesday. ``People who'll tell him it's time to move on.''
Even Gates opponents have been relatively quiet since the chief's response to the
report, suggesting confidence that Gates' departure is imminent.
``The question is changing from `Should Chief Gates stay?' to `When would be
the right time for him to leave?' '' said Councilman Michael Woo.
The bet is that Gates, 64, will retire in a few months.
But if Gates holds firm, the process could be arduous. The city charter is so
antiquated that it's unclear how much authority anyone has to fire the police
chief. That issue is still before the courts.
Police reaction:
- Police union president George Aliano said he's been swamped with police
calling for copies of the report. Many were shaken by its contents.
- ``It hasn't made my job any easier,'' said Officer Suzy Regan. But she said she
was standing by the chief.
- Detective Mike Brox applauded release of the computer transcripts. ``Some of
the things that I've seen over the computers are appalling.''
Some
- Darick Harris, 33, an assembly-line worker at an auto plant said he thought
police might worry more in public, ``but in a dark alley where no one is
watching I don't think they've changed anything.''
- ``It used to be that you could ask a policeman directions,'' says church deacon
John Eugene, 59. ``Now, if you approach them, the first thing they do is reach
for their gun.'' Contributing: Jonathan T. Lovitt
CUTLINE:GATES SUPPORTER: Officer Suzy Regan, wearing ribbon pin that
shows her support for Police Chief Daryl Gates, says `Gates should stay as long
as he likes.' CUTLINE:RESIDENT: John Eugene, 59, says once `you could ask a
policeman directions. Now, the first thing they do is reach for their gun.'
PHOTOS;b/w,Bob Riha Jr., Gamma Liaison(2)