The most interesting story in the morning newspapers was the threat of 500 LAPD officers “to retire or change jobs” if the city forces them to make full personal financial disclosures as a condition of the federal consent decree that governs the department.
The consent decree was signed by Mayor Hahn just before the turn of the century because of a crooked cops scandal.
Proceed with caution, dear reader.
Remember where the focus of this potential scrutiny will be.
Pass the Sandpaper to Brush My Teeth
We are talking about the toughest warriors in the department, very, very specialized, high-profile, scorch-pressured cops who work the gangs and the drugs beats. They are not waiting to be outfitted with angels’ wings.
You probably never will encounter more nails-hard hombres.
They have to be that way to succeed, but the temptation to stray, or profit, with booty — some catalogued, some not — is overwhelming, we are told.
This is not your kindly father checking up on your saintly mother. This is a dirty arena.
With the Police Commission’s final decision on the disclosure requirement due tomorrow, the police union president is banging his drum loudly:
“An unnecessary and ill-conceived intrusion into the private lives of LAPD officers, their spouses and their children,” he bellowed for dramatic effect.
“No other law enforcement agency in the country forces its officers to share this kind of information.”
Typically of union presidents who always have the public’s interest close to their chilly hearts when they find themselves hip-deep in a crisis that smells phony, this chap did not disappoint.
In a spirit of communal brotherhood, he is “urging” his regular officers to demand transfers and “urging” potential signups to change their plans.
What a guy.
I think he was one of my forgettable brothers-in-law a marriage or two ago.
Throw the department into chaos, Bonehead.
Sufficient Time to Run for Cover
The financial disclosure program would be phased in over two years.
Current officers, who may have something to hide, have plenty of time to scramble, obfuscate and shift their haul into a safe, invulnerable place. They would not be required to reveal their family portfolio until two years from now.
However, newly assigned officers are not as lucky. They would be obligated to make their disclosures within 10 days of appointment.
Who Are You Dealing with?
Sit back and ponder for a moment.
Do not lose sight of the identity of the targets.
This is not about smiling, round-faced Clancy walking the friendly neighborhood beat. These are the roughest, toughest hombres you ever have seen.
In case after case that I have read about, cops and their supporters have brought the same argument.
Ah, Don’t Bother
They say crooked officers are slick enough to hide what they steal, which will leave only good guys being harassed.
Undeniably, this is a logical and sweet-sounding proposition. But, upon tighter inspection, the claim is made out of Swiss cheese, and it crumbles into birdseed..
I can hear the frantic panting all the way to Culver City. Oh, how these officers dread scrutiny. Are those who protest loudest afraid of being caught.?
They have turned a central department policy upside down to defend their shaky stand. If bad guys are so good at hiding their booty, why bother to even pursue or prosecute them. They won’t tell you anyway.
Next: Let’s take a closer look at the interesting lady who penned an op-ed defense of the protestors this morning in the Los Angeles Times.