Outcry Over Police Beating

As much as I hate to take exception to a fellow priest, I would like to share a different perspective of the LAPD (“Defenseless, the Poor Are Also Voiceless,” Commentary, March 11).

Father Gregory Boyle and I both work in Boyle Heights at different parishes and are serviced by the same police station.

I can only speak of my own pastoral experience of eight years working with the police in my parish. One of the first things I did was to introduce myself to the local police captain, as I have done in other parish assignments.

Since my initial visit with the police, I have had nothing but a high regard for them and their concern for the safety of our people.

Many of the difficulties that we face are because there are so few police officers. The deployment of officers is something that always has to be reviewed. Unfortunately, I sense that deployment is largely a political decision with those with less voice getting less service.

This letter is in no way to judge the merits or demerits of the King tragedy. It perhaps points out to us that the police have even a stronger standard of conduct.

FATHER JOHN T. MORETTA

Los Angeles