Police Panel Stirs Debate

Re “Hearings Planned on Whether to Establish Police Commission,” Dec. 21:

At the [Huntington Beach City] Council meeting on Nov. 18, Councilman Dave Sullivan announced his intentions of establishing a police commission. His proposed purpose was to investigate allegations against the police, most centering on the enforcement of the zero-tolerance ordinance established to prevent a repeat of the July 4 rioting. Apparently, Sullivan had forgotten that the city’s zero-tolerance ordinance was reviewed by the city attorney and had been approved by the City Council.

Since Sullivan’s declaration, there have been three public meetings. Each meeting was advertised in advance. At each, no one from the public showed up except myself. Councilwoman Shirley S. Dettloff’s statement that “It was the public that came forward and suggested that this might be a good idea” was not mentioned at any of the three previous subcommittee meetings.

The literature presented at the meetings by the chief of police and the city administrator showed that the majority of citizen boards, committees and commissions were formed to assist the police. The overall goal was to improve public safety and work with the Police Department. Apparently, this council subcommittee prefers to head in the opposite direction.

ROY H. RICHARDSON

Huntington Beach

* Referring to a citizen police review board, Huntington Beach Police Chief Ronald E. Lowenberg is “bewildered as to why anyone in this community would think we need this” (“City Divided on Issues of Police Force,” Jan. 19).

As described by the chief, the board would be staffed by a “non-elected, less-than-sophisticated group of citizens who for the most part have no understanding of how to provide police services.” What a low opinion he has of the Huntington Beach citizens.

The chief surely knows that an important function of any manager is to keep his employers informed. If the residents of Huntington Beach are less than informed, it is a failure on his part to do his job.

After all, the public operates on the perception rather than the reality of any situation. If he can’t change the perception to match the reality, perhaps he has overreached his abilities. When the police are operating within the law, there should be no reason for concern. A review board will make it easier for the cops to refrain from impinging on anyone’s civil rights.

Just a thought from this non-elected, less-than-sophisticated Orange County resident who believes even cops should obey the U.S. Constitution.

RICHARD A. HEIN

Fullerton

* As a resident of Huntington Beach, I am getting quite tired of reading about our elected city officials’ vendetta against the police department.

This council’s main focus over the last three years has been the police department and its activities on July 4. Wouldn’t it be great to have a job that has one focal issue and one important day in the whole year?

This city has other issues (youth sports, unnecessary development, preservation of the wetlands, traffic, crime and schools) that need attention immediately.

As an active youth athletic volunteer, [I see that] our facilities are the worst in Orange County. The practice facilities are in shambles and are unsafe and baseball fields are being sold for commercial use. Where are our children going to play? All sports are in jeopardy for our youth.

Working in South Orange County, I clearly observe that the city councils here strongly support their children. If the [Huntington Beach] City Council would spend as much time fighting the local police as it would other important issues, maybe we could actually make some progress in these areas.

City Councilmen Tom Harman, Dave Sullivan and others, please call me after you solve “the police problem” so we can give some real attention to other issues that could have a bigger impact on the residents of Huntington Beach.

JEFF FORSBERG

Huntington Beach

* Laughable were Huntington Beach Police Chief Ron Lowenberg’s quotes regarding the possible formation of a citizens’ police oversight commission: “I’m a little bewildered as to why anyone in this community would think we need this.” Followed by: “Adding another layer of bureaucracy, taking a non-elected, less-than-sophisticated group of citizens, who for the most part have no understanding of how to provide police services . . . it’s a bit disturbing to me.”

I would like to know on what planet the good chief spends his time, and what would keep him this completely oblivious to public outrage regarding the police department he supposedly is in charge of.

Further, he insults unknown potential commission members because they are “non-elected.” Last I heard, his position as chief was non-elected. Are we then to view him as less credible?

And since no one knows who might be selected for the commission, it would be interesting to learn what grounds the chief chooses to pass judgment that a “less-than-sophisticated group of citizens” [would] have no understanding of how to provide police services. What clairvoyance!

JAMES H. BRIDGES

Costa Mesa