officers - The Black Vault

.,
questions, particularly from Gates'1
supporters, who said they were
concerned about rumors sweeping
the council chamber that Gates
inight be placed on administrative
leave.
Sheinbaum said he knew nothing
of such rumors, and added that he
has an open mind about the chief's
performance. "There is a civil libertarian
process called due process,"
Sheinbaum said. "We ~re
concerned with due process ifor ,
anybody and everybody."
Several council members said
they would not support a move to
place the chief on leave while
investigations are continuing into
the King beating and the Police
Department.
"lfthe Police Commission would
do something li.ke that, it would be
a wimp-out," said Councilwoman
Joy Picus, who backs Gates.
Sheinbaum said he would not be
in a position to make a "rush to
judgment." He flew to London later
in the day for a 10-day conference
on the economy of Eastern Europe.
Most of the council members said
they trust Sheinbaum to view
. Gates impartially.
"He has always been known to
be an objective and fair servant of
this community," said Councilman
Richard Alatorre.
"You will find [Sheinbaum's] record
is one of fairness and balance,"
said Councilman Zev Yaro­
'slavsky. "Because of his abiding
, commitment to equal protection,
· he would probably be one of the
chief's best judges."
Sheinbaum, 70, a former University
of California regent, is regarded
as an elder statesman of liberal
Politics in Los Angeles. An economist,
he has been active in a
number of liberal causes over the
years. He helped found People for
•
the American Way, a group that
promotes freedom of speech. He
has been a major fund-raiser for
several Democratic Party candidates.
I
n 1988, Sheinbaum created controversy
in some Jewish circles
when he encouraged the United
States to negotiate with Palestine
Liberation Organization leader
Yasser Arafat. Sheinbaum, who is
Jewish, said he was merely trying
to resolve longstanding differences
between Israel and the PLO.
Councilman Hal Bernson, who
•
cerned that the Police Commission
would be slanted against Gates.
Sheinbaum resigned as chairman
emeritus of the ACLU Foundation
of Southern California two days
before his appointment was an·
nounced by Bradley.
"This nonsense that ACLU peo-
ple are anti-police is just that,
nonsense," ·he told the City Council.
"I want this post. I sent word to
the mayor that I was interested
even before I knew of the Rodney
King beating.
"Just as many of you have asked
me to keep an open mind about
joined Councilwoman Joan Milke Daryl Gates, lam asking you to.do
Flores in voting against Sheinbaum's
appointment, said he will
the same about me." . "'-
In another development
attempt to disqualify the new com· · Wednesday, Mark Ridley.Thomas,
missioner. from voting on Gates' executive director of the Los Anperformance.
geles chapter 'Of the Southern
"If .we are going to have a Christian Leadership Conference,
railroad job . • . 1
to lynch the chief,
then I cannot support it,"· Bernson
and a candidate for the 8th District
City Council seat, contended that
told Sheinbaum. . at least five officers involved in the
Bernson cited Sheinbaum's past
affiliation with the ACLU as the
"39th and Dalton" police abuse·
case have been promoted rather
reason he cannot be an impartial than disciplined.
judge of Gates' performance.
Under the City Charter, the city
· The case involves destruction at
a series of apartments during a
attorney's office determines 1988 police raid at 39th Street and
whether members. of boards and
commissions should be barred from
Dalton A venue.
Ridley-Thomas said he has bevotes
because of a conflict of
interest. Such rulings must be
gun apprising Police Commission
members of his information as a
made within 10 days of a request possible reason for disciplining
by a council member.
Gates.
Assistant City Atty. John Hag· "Beyond a reasonable shadow of
gerty, legal adviser to the City . a doubt, this provides the kind of
Council, said such a request has not evidence that Daryl Gates has not
yet been made official and that it is effectively managed the depart·
too early to say ·how the city ment," said Ridley·Thomas.
attorney's office might rule. .
Flores said she voted against
However, Stephen Yagman, a
private attorney who is suing the
Sheinbaum because she is con- ,-.Police Department over the 39th
and Dalton case, said that at least
15 officers have told him in deposi•
tions that they were disciplined,
and that another 10 officers have
said they have discipline cases
pending.
George Aliano, president of the
Police Protective League, said he
did not know t.Qe status of any
disciplinary actjpn against the officers,
but he said not all may have .
been directly involved.
"Politicians, when they's:e run- ~
· ning for office, are going to get"
involved in what t)ley think is
. going to get them votes," Aliano '\
said of the claims by Ridley- ;
Thomas. "What's ·dangerous are ··
. -t~ings that are incomplete and "
· "What they don't have full informationon."
,.,
nmes staff writers Leslie Berger,
Paul Feldman and Sheryl Stolberg
-contributed to this story.