As the late afternoon breezes stirred a few minutes ago around the Police Dept. grounds on Duquesne, the sunny air was dense with crackling intrigue and eerie with silence.
Whose move is it?
Will someone blink soon?
What is next in the Police Union vs. Police Chief War that is in at least the ninth month of an openended gestation period?
The Police Officers Assn., which shot five rockets of charges against Chief Don Pedersen into the air on Thursday, July 22, and followed up with a series of strongly worded commentaries in this newspaper, has clammed up for the past week.
Mr. Pedersen, after sitting for one lengthy interview with this newspaper, is quietly waiting for the police union’s next move.
At least three of his strongest backers inside the department are agreed that the dreaded Crime Not Only Is Rising but Practically Soaring accusation will be the next card turned over.
“I will wager a lunch with you,” said one eager officer to a visitor, “that the union will go public, maybe tomorrow, which seems to be their favorite day, with the “crime is up” gimmick at the advice of their counsel.
“I have seen this stunt pulled before in this kind of situation.
“I predict their message will go like this:
“Crime is out of control in Culver City because of the policies of the Police Chief.”
A fellow officer standing nearby wore an almost-smirk.
“Let me tell you,” the veteran said, “if you felt safe in Culver City five or 10 years ago, crime basically is the same.”
As often happens in the presence of one or more officers, the gilded name of The Legend, longtime Chief Ted Cooke, was invoked, and without a smile.
“I know that Chief Cooke used to say there was no crime here,” the officer said. “That, of course, is not the case. I was here then. There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the crime figures were doctored back then. They were manipulated, for whatever purpose.
“It really will be offensive if the union goes the ‘Crime Is Up’ route.”
A third veteran joined the sotto voce conversation just as it was about to break up.
“I have been with the department (a number of) years,” he said.
“Culver City is a safe community, as safe as it ever was under Cooke, regardless of what the union may claim. I don’t know how to quantify that because with crime statistics, that is dicey.
“We don’t live here, but I know Culver City. My wife could walk safely through nearly every neighborhood here after dark, and I would not worry.”
