officers - The Black Vault

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distinctions between philo~
sophical differences and per~
sonal animosity." ' ·
Garcia told. Gates that he
would be relieved only if the
commission's investigation determined
he was derelict in his
duty. "There might be ·nothing
,. that results in terms of immedi~
ate discipline against the
. chief," Garcia said. ·
Gates criticized commissioners
for removing him under a
section of the LAPD manual
normally used when "there are
serious charges being brought
' and serious allegations made
against an officer."
He asked the commission to
cite specific allegations against
him, a challenge the commis~
sion did not meet. He alSo said
that Bradley and the commissioners
should have delayed a
decision until after the mayor's
new commission investigating
the Police Department had
completed its work.
"This whole action of the
board defames me," Gates said.
"And I would like the record to
show that I hold each and
every one of you personally
responsible for any -defamation
[or] any harm that this brings
me."
Toward the end of the meet~
ing, Garcia appeared exasperated
when he wondered aloud
-whether both sides had properly
aired their grievances. "Has
everybody got it out of their
. system?' 1 he asked.