Officers Accused in Shooting Spree

* Let me see if I get this straight: Two trained Los Angeles police officers, who are public servants and role models sworn to “Protect and Serve,” got drunk, and discharged their weapons at another officer, and at other targets (Feb. 10-11). (They have since claimed that they were only shooting at signs, and did not see the CHP officer in the line of fire!)

What the hell is the Los Angeles Police Department using for screening and training guidelines? At this rate we would be better off disbanding the department altogether, and making an anarchy of our society. It might actually be safer, since irresponsible maniacs, such as these two shooters, would not be able to conceal their obvious lack of sanity, and/or training, behind a badge.

MIKHAEL KOLLANDER

Agoura

* First, let me say I support law enforcement, but let’s examine the last few months.

We have had several incidents involving police officers including inebriated officers brandishing weapons at Anaheim Stadium, an officer stabbing his lover, an LAPD officer convicted of raping women he had pulled over, Lennox area sheriff’s deputies discharging their weapons while drinking on duty, an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy shot dead by a fellow officer during an unauthorized training exercise, and two LAPD officers shooting at a fellow peace officer while drunk.

While the liberal media, including The Times, believe that only police officers should be allowed to possess guns, I believe that the incidents noted above clearly show that even they are not capable of the proper use and possession of weapons and we need to retain our weapons as a safeguard.

RICHARD McWOLD

Santa Ana

* How sad a commentary, when two police officers, with eight or more years of service to the city, do something dumb and receive the politically expedient response of Chief Willie L. Williams and his senior staff that is just as dumb. These two men are not criminal from the “hood” who contribute to the carnage of the 77th Division where these officers have served the community. These two officers have placed their lives on the line to serve the public for a collective 17 years of service. Without a doubt what they did was wrong, but was it criminal?

These officers have been under the most stressful assignment LAPD can subject a street cop to for many years and on this regrettable day they relieved some of their stress by drinking too much, and then firing their guns at freeway signs. They were not firing at the CHP officer, or anyone else. How sad that law enforcement standards fluctuate so much because of the lack of leadership of a department. These officers should be disciplined and counseled, not fired and prosecuted for doing something dumb.

ROBERT FELICIANO

Downey

* Perhaps now we should apply the “three strikes and you’re out” philosophy to that institution of justice, fair play and professionalism: the LAPD.

LAWRENCE DIXON

Los Angeles

* The LAPD needs a process that really works at identifying, treating, or as a last resort, discharging problem officers before they become a threat to the general public and themselves. How much can the city afford to continue to spend on officers that needlessly expose the city to significant financial liability?

Is there no desire by the Police Department, local government or Police Commission to halt the unnecessary payouts and loss of respect by the communities the police officers serve because of the wantonly, reckless acts of a few officers?

ERICH WILLIAMS

Santa Ana