WHAT: The Los Angeles Police Department is joined by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles School Police Department in a news conference to announce the signature gathering campaign titled "Letters from Los Angeles," in support of employees from these organizations who are serving in the Unites States Armed Forces.

WHEN: Saturday, May 1, 2004, at 9 a.m.

WHERE: Rancho Park Golf Course, 10460 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles.

WHO: Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton, Los Angeles Sheriff Department Assistant Sheriff Larry Waldie, Los Angeles Unified School District Police Department Chief Alan Kerstein and Deputy Chief Larry Manion.

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles School Police Department will conduct a joint news conference to kick-off the signature gathering campaign "Letters from Los Angeles" in support of those employees who have been called to serve in our Armed Forces.

The news conference will be held at 9 a.m., in front of the signature booth at the Los Angeles Police 33^rd Annual Police-Celebrity Golf Tournament, at the Rancho Park Golf Course.

People attending the Golf Tournament will be asked to sign greetings-cards that will be mailed to each of the 88 employees from these departments who are presently serving in active military duty. "We understand and appreciate the personal sacrifice our employees are making for all of us and we want them to know we support them 100 %," said LAPD Chief Bratton. "We hope these post-cards from home will bring comfort to our brothers and sisters serving our country and remind them we are one family" added Assistant Sheriff Waldie.

Of the combined 848 employees who serve in the Armed Forces Reserve from all three departments, over 350 have been activated to full military duty status since the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.

This news advisory was prepared by Public Information Officer Eduardo Funes, Media Relations Section, at 213 485-3586.