officers - The Black Vault

"Chief Gates is
. concentrating his
effort into saving
his job, which
instead should be
put into managing
the department and
making changes
which would
restore the public's
confidence.
- Michael Woo
City councilman
of a city investigation into his fi.
nancial dealings.
· Bradley said that the city attorney
cleared him of wrongdoing
and that the circumstances were
different.
~·I don't believe there was the
same public outc·ry," he said.
"The call for resignation when it
was with regard to my case came
from a few people who were not
willing to wait for the facts to
come in. In this case there's a
huge storm of protest that·exists
out there and I think there's a
clear distinction."
Bradley also denied that his re- ·
placement of Civil Service Commissioner
Qare Bronowski with
labor lawyer Larry Drasin on
Tuesday was a political move to
set up the commission so it
would be more likely to fire
Gates.
"There has been no desire
whatsoever to load up, as you put
it, any commission," Bradley
said. .
Woo said he reached his decision
to demand the chief's resignation
late Tuesday, after reviewing
a report that less than
· one-third of police misconduct
cases are investigated by the
l.APD Internal Affairs Division.
The councilman, considered a
possible mayoral candidate in
.1993, denied any political moti­
:vation.
However, Woo did acknowledge
that a sharp exchange bel
had with Gates last week during a
City Council meeting played a
role. · .
In that exchange, Gat~s reacted
. angrily when Woo asked if the
chief was threatening to withhold
police services from council
members who criticize Gates.
"That is the most insulting
thing ~·ve heard on this council
floor in all of the time I've been
here and I've been here a lot
longer than you've been alive,"
Gates told Woo on March 20.
Other council members continued
to either stay neutral or to
supp()rt Gates.
Council members Joan Milke
Flores, Hal Bernson, Nate H9l~
den and John Ferraro 5aid
Wednesday that Gates is the best
person to make sure changes #e
made in department policy and
practice to prevent a repeat of an
incident like the King beating..
Councilmen Joel Wachs a'n'd
Robert Farrell said they will n9t
call for Gates to quit while the
Police Commission still is investigating
the King incident and
studying possible reforms.
1
A recall effort against Gates:a.t.
ready has been started by a ~p
led by Kerman Maddox, a candidate
in the 8th District City
Council race. Backers must collect
57,000 signatures in four
months, starting April 12, in
order to qualify the recall for the
ballot.
Once the petitions are validated
by the city clerk, the City
Council has 90 days to place it on
the ballot. ~~·
Hahn's opinion, issued to City
'Clerk Elias Martinez, said the
City Charter does allow residents
to recall the police chief from his
appointed position.
Although the charter gives 8ie
police chief civil service protecti.ons,
other provisions, Hahil's
opinion said, "clearly establish
that it was the intent of the Charter
to permit the electorate to fe:;.
move appointed officers despite
·the fact that other provisions for
removal already exist." ! :::.
Ll