COUNTYWIDE : Dannemeyer Letter ‘Absurd,’ Gates Says

When Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) protested to Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates last week about “absurd” police tactics in arresting abortion protesters at a clinic, his letter was a fusillade of anger.

He accused Gates’ officers of being “repeat offenders” in the use of “Bull Connor” techniques to arrest nonviolent protesters.

The congressman accused Gates of playing favorites by using less aggressive police tactics when the protesters were “the Hollywood Dog-and-Pony show (Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, et al).”

Dannemeyer also threatened to see to it that Los Angeles loses federal community development grants over it.

Friday, Gates fired off his own volley of insults to Dannemeyer.

“Your letter . . . is so absurd that I almost decided not to answer it,” Gates began. The police chief went on to call the congressman’s letter “an outrageous diatribe, coming from a member of Congress.”

Gates added that he knew about the federal law that can cause some cities to lose federal funds if police are found guilty of mistreating abortion protesters.

“I am well aware of the extortionary law that you and others like you put into effect. . . ,” Gates wrote. “You can investigate until hell freezes over and you will find nothing in the actions of the Los Angeles Police Department that would prevent Title II funds from coming to this community.”

Nearly 250 people were arrested April 14 after anti-abortion protesters descended on a mid-Wilshire clinic. More than 300 police officers controlled the crowd and made arrests. Some of the protest leaders complained about police brutality.

Dannemeyer suggested in his letter that if Gates’ did not straighten up his department, “the voters of Los Angeles will treat you like a batter at Dodger Stadium and say ‘Three strikes, you’re out.’ ”

But Gates had him on that one.

“Unlike a congressman who sputters, blusters, threatens, and writes highly inappropriate letters, I am not elected,” Gates wrote. “I am just one of those dumb bureaucrats who has had more strikes thrown at him than most. . . . I am still not out, and your stupid letter will not drive me out. And unlike you, I have a duty to all the people and not just one special interest fringe group.”

Both Gates and Dannemeyer signed their letters: “Sincerely.”