Police union letter to Chief Bratton
Police union letter to Chief Bratton
Below please find a letter to Chief Bratton regarding recent statements about officers:
May 10, 2007
William J. Bratton, Chief of Police
Los Angeles Police Department
Room 615, Parker Center
150 North Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Dear Chief Bratton:
As we move to put the events of May 1st behind us, we had not thought we would have to remind you, of all people, of the importance of protecting the men and women you lead from the kind of broad-brush rush to judgment that can be so devastating to officer morale.
This was why we were upset to read this quote from you in the Los Angeles Times: "One thing I know about them [police] is you have to control them, because they go out of control faster than any human being in the world." What was stunning about this comment, Chief, was that it would seem to indict every man and woman now serving, or who has ever served, or will serve, in law enforcement. We interpret this comment (as do many others) as a suggestion that you believe that every police officer has self-control issues.
We truly hope that this is not how you think of the officers you command. The 9,500 officers of the LAPD are the heart and soul of the best trained and best qualified Department in the country. Either you misspoke or you were misquoted. However, we believe that you owe an apology to the men and women of our Department.
Impeaching the emotional maturity of the men and women who serve Los Angeles under your command only weakens the mutual trust that is necessary to keep this Department working smoothly and protecting the City.
Very truly yours,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Los Angeles Police Protective League
(Original Signed By)
ROBERT BAKER
President
RB:lab
Letter posted Friday on Web site of Los Angeles Police Protective League
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... ome-center