SCANDAL THAT TOUCHES ALL

The LAPD's deepening Rampart Division scandal involving corrupt officers
has yet to spur deep concerns among many Angelenos. Yet no one who cares
about this community can afford to be dismissive of allegations that could
not be more serious.

These are not penny-ante charges. The investigation of the scandal to date
has uncovered evidence of beatings, unwarranted shootings by officers, cops
dealing drugs, witness intimidation, planted evidence, perjury and other
crimes and forms of police misconduct.

Big deal, some say. There are more than 9,500 sworn officers and only 13
current or former officers are under suspicion so far. That could mean the
actions of just 13 officers are tainting an entire police force. Of course
any scandal within a large organization must be kept in perspective. But
the community must not lose sight of what is at stake in police misconduct
cases. Police officers are agents of the state who are given extraordinary
powers in order to preserve law and order. The Constitution gives due
process to everyone accused of a crime, not just those with good jobs and
clean records. And the fact is, this alleged police misconduct was
committed against people who for the most part were suspected or known gang
members. These are not people who generate sympathy or admiration.
Consider, for example, some of those whose convictions have been overturned
because of the scandal: one in custody on an unrelated murder charge;
another a parole violator. Not model Angelenos, to be sure. Some L.A.
residents then have shrugged, saying, in effect: Who cares if a few
officers play a little fast and loose with the truth and plant some
evidence on thugs? The officers got some really bad guys off the street.
More power to them.

The danger with this kind of thinking is that it's where the erosion of
civil rights begins. One day, the victim of unconstitutional actions may be
a criminal; the next day, it could be a law-abiding person who someone
decides just looks like a criminal. So far 11 convictions have been
overturned and four men have been released from incarceration. Those who
were convicted based on false or manufactured evidence were wronged, and
the Bill of Rights was designed to protect them, too, as it must if the
rule of law is to mean anything.

As the Los Angeles Police Department continues its investigation, we
encourage and applaud its determination to rid its force of bad elements
and to fix any policies that encouraged acting outside the law. The
investigation is vitally important - to everyone who treasures the fairness
and freedom that the law engenders.