Re "Beatings Alleged to Be Routine at Rampart," Feb. 14: My brother
has been telling me "the cops are bad, they lie, plant evidence and
beat and abuse people," and I've always told him that the vast
majority of Los Angeles Police Department officers are certainly
better than that. I've been supportive--until now. We need a dramatic
change in prosecution policy.

I'm generally against zero-tolerance measures, but perhaps the police
should be expected to measure up to a higher standard; after all,
assaulting a police officer is a more serious crime, for good reason.
Likewise, crimes committed by police officers should be considered
more serious, not less. The departmental "wall of silence" is disgusting.

DAN BRUMER,
Encino

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