Mike Pouraryan
SP Week-End (4/18/2010): The Death of Daryl Gates
Daryl Gates died Friday. For those who don't know who he is, he served as Chief of Police for the City of Los Angeles from 1978 through 1992 and as he noted, lived through some of the most interesting times in LA history.
Daryl Gates, to me, represented the best in Public Service. He was a Police Officer for over 43 years and served the last 15 as Chief. He was a visionary when he launched SWAT, expanded Air Support and also did stoke quite a bit of controversy especially during the King Riots. I was in LA and saw Southern California go up in flames. I saw Martial Law being declared and was witness when Marines were ordered out by President Bush 41 from El Toro to help quell the riots. I could not believe it at the time that Martial Law was declared.
As Chief Gates was mad, he echoed the sentiments of many that could not tolerate what had happened. He was forced to retire as a result of some of the things that actually came to light as a result of the King Beating. In many ways, LA is still trying to come to grips with it. But, no matter his faults, he was still an example of the best that Public Service had to offer. I was especially quite taken when Bernard Parks, one of his successors and now a Member of the City Council, considered him a mentor and called him fair. He was a leader, a dedicated public servant and sought to make a difference. My the Lord bless the soul of this dedicated public servant.
Daryl Gates, to me, represented the best in Public Service. He was a Police Officer for over 43 years and served the last 15 as Chief. He was a visionary when he launched SWAT, expanded Air Support and also did stoke quite a bit of controversy especially during the King Riots. I was in LA and saw Southern California go up in flames. I saw Martial Law being declared and was witness when Marines were ordered out by President Bush 41 from El Toro to help quell the riots. I could not believe it at the time that Martial Law was declared.
As Chief Gates was mad, he echoed the sentiments of many that could not tolerate what had happened. He was forced to retire as a result of some of the things that actually came to light as a result of the King Beating. In many ways, LA is still trying to come to grips with it. But, no matter his faults, he was still an example of the best that Public Service had to offer. I was especially quite taken when Bernard Parks, one of his successors and now a Member of the City Council, considered him a mentor and called him fair. He was a leader, a dedicated public servant and sought to make a difference. My the Lord bless the soul of this dedicated public servant.
