Employee Organizations Express Their Support for Chief Parks

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Monday, April 3, 2000

For the first time, a diverse coalition of leaders representing employee organizations within the Los Angeles Police Department have joined together to express their support for Chief Parks and his efforts to root out corruption from the Rampart Division and anywhere else it is discovered from within the Department. The organizations also express their continued commitment to serving the people of Los Angeles with "honor, professionalism and integrity." The attached letter of support has been submitted to the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News publications.

The involved organizations represented are:

Oscar Joel Bryant Foundation (Black Officers Association)
Latin American Law Enforcement Association
Los Angeles Women Peace Officers Association
Law Enforcement Association of Asian Pacifics
Fraternal Organization of Jewish Peace Officers (Shomrim)
Golden State Peace Officers Association (Gay/Lesbian Officers)
Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
Command Officers Association
Hispanic Law Enforcement Administrators
Los Angeles Police Historical Society

For additional information please contact:
Marcella Winn, President,
Oscar Joel Bryant Foundation
213-485-2511

Arturo Gomez, President,
Latin American Law Enforcement Association
213-485-2633

David Rosenberg,
President, Fraternal Organization of Jewish Peace Officers (Shomrim)
213-473-0282

Ann Young,
Los Angeles Police Women Peace Officers Association
818-756-8371

Letter of Support submitted to the LA Times and Daily Journal:
April 3, 2000

The Men and Women of the Los Angeles Police Department are committed to serving the people of Los Angeles, and their Chief of Police.

In 1997 and early 1998, the Los Angeles Police Department discovered that there were officers identified as suspects involved in serious criminal activity. At no time were there any attempts to hide or keep these incidents from the public. Upon receiving this information, Chief Bernard C. Parks immediately launched a comprehensive investigation into these allegations of serious misconduct, ensured that the involved officers’ activities had been stopped and informed the citizens of Los Angeles of the alleged activities and investigation.

In doing so, Chief Parks has again demonstrated his commitment to an oath he first made over thirty-five years ago when he pledged to protect and serve the people of this great City. We, a diverse coalition of leaders representing employee organizations within the Los Angeles Police Department, fully support Chief Parks, and solicit the public’s continued support of his efforts to root out all vestiges of corruption identified at Rampart Division and anywhere else within our Department. We also fully support the immediate identification and the most expeditious method of prosecution for those who have betrayed the sacred public trust and who have tarnished the badge of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Rampart Division Corruption Incident has caused embarrassment and shame to the entire Los Angeles Police Department and the law enforcement profession across the country. Just as the people of Los Angeles abhor the deplorable criminal acts and self-serving deeds of a small minority of our Department, we and the members of our collective employee groups, share the public’s sentiments and desire to rid the Los Angeles Police Department of corruption wherever it exists.

We ask the people of Los Angeles to look beyond the criminal conduct of a few officers and clearly understand that they do not represent the overwhelming majority of dedicated Los Angeles Police Officers. We, under the leadership of Chief Parks remain steadfast in our continued commitment to serve the people of Los Angeles with honor, professionalism and integrity.

The members of the below listed police officer employee organizations are confident in the leadership of the Chief of Police.

Signed,

Marcella Winn, President, Oscar Joel Bryant Foundation (Black Officers Association)

Arturo Gomez, President, Latin American Law Enforcement Association

Ann Young, President, Los Angeles Women Peace Officers Association

Daniel Wong, President, Law Enforcement of Asian Pacific

David Rosenberg, President, Fraternal Organization of Jewish Peace Officers, (Shomrim)

A.J. Rotella, President, Golden State Peace Officers Association (Gay/Lesbian Officers)

Harlan Ward, President, Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives

Michael Nunez, President, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives

Richard Bonneau, President, Command Officers Association

George Ibarra, President, Hispanic Law Enforcement Administrators

Board of Directors, Los Angeles Police Historical Society

For Release 11:00 am PST
April 4, 2000