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	Vol.7, No 11, September 16, 1999
	Police need policing A society is in moral turmoil when the people supposed to protect and serve the community are themselves breaking the law.   That is exactly what has happened in the Los Angeles Police Department recently. Two officers are charged with major felonies.   One officer is charged with robbing a Bank of America. The other officer, who was once a partner of the first, is charged with possession and intent to distribute cocaine.    The really sad thing is he stole the dope from the evidence room at the police center.    LAPD Chief Bernard Parks has been trying to improve morale in the department and the publicís view of the department since he took office.   These disturbing events have tarnished a police force still recovering from the racial tensions of seven years ago. With accusations of racism flying around other Southland police and sheriff stations, this is no time to further damage the reputation of any law enforcement agency.   With corruption like this, We have to wonder if we are moving toward a society in which police are on the take. Are we going back to the early 1900s, when corruption was more widespread in policing and politics in general?     Now there have been charges that the department is trying to prevent its civilian auditor from doing his job, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.    For a department with so much pride, there is just too much controversy. People already distrust the police. A police department should try to boost the communityís trust, not throw Zippo fuel on an already roaring fire.   This is not to say all police officers are corrupt, though. The old saying tells us not to let one bad apple spoil the bunch.    But when so many bad apples are in one orchard, it can be hard not to want to burn the whole damned thing down.   We all know the LAPD and other departments have many problems. But are there any realistic solutions?   Well, the LAPD has tried to use an outside civilian to monitor the department, but that doesn't seem to be working.    Maybe there is just no solution. Police officers are generally a tight-lipped bunch. They tend to be like brothers in arms. They are just not likely to rat on one another unless one of them does something really outrageous.   We can only hope this mentality will bring about some effective internal policing for our great protectors. But when working in such a dangerous environment with virtually no respect, and by being around crime on a daily basis, you, too, might become desensitized and turn to the very life of crime you are entrusted to prevent.		CSU raises admission standards Students mingle with employers High Schoolers focus of new bill Bookstore sales up despite Web stores Bill to keep guns from mentally unstable Assembly bill may reduce area code confusion Cultural center celebrates diversity on campus Police need policing Out-of-wedlock birth decline at what cost Mr. Mike comes through Magic wins with 'Thuggin' High school ballers show off their skills Coach Gimmillaro looking forward to challenge Best of the West face-off at USC Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.