Daryl Gates

Let’s all look surprised! Daryl Gates wants his old Los Angeles police chief’s job back so that he could “straighten out the department for six months or so” (June 7); as if his past 14-year tenure didn’t cause enough division and embarrassment for the city!

Isn’t this the same Daryl Gates whose leadership inspired the formation of the Christopher Commission to investigate his department’s questionable undertakings? Isn’t this the same Daryl Gates who so successfully “protected and served” people like Reginald Denny and the physical safety and property of so many other citizens during the 1992 rioting? Isn’t this the same Daryl Gates who was all but dragged kicking and screaming from his office when his number was up? Yes, sir.

Being knocked from such a lofty pedestal must have been particularly devastating for Gates. Still, his interference in this difficult selection process is immature, vengeful and serves no purpose other than to soothe his own woefully battered ego. He’s cost the taxpayers quite enough money so far--can’t someone impose a gag order on this clown?

G. FRED LOGAN

Laguna Niguel