The mail.(Letter to the Editor)

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, and have been a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney for over 21 years. I write this letter in my individual capacity.

Having worked hundreds of prosecutions, many of them murders, with the fine men and women of the LAPD, I found Mr. Golab's article on the decline of L.A.'s police force ("How Racial P.C. Corrupted the LAPD," June) to be absolutely accurate. He captured the true spirit of the grave problem in Los Angeles with sub-standard hiring (and promotional practices) of police officers. Political correctness has cost local citizens numerous lives and millions of dollars.

In one case I handled, a Latino patrol officer with the LAPD was charged with stalking his ex-girlfriend and assaulting her. In looking into his background, I learned he was hired with the LAPD's knowledge of his prior criminal conviction--for battery on a peace officer. This small example, along with those cited by Mr. Golab, paints a truly scary situation.

Scot Carbaugh

Los Angeles, California

I was an L.A. cop from 1980-2000. Much of what Jan Golab writes has been told to Los Angeles Times reporters for 20 years. The Times clearly collaborated with local politicians in creating today's mess.

One more example of political correctness: Female LAPD officers comprise roughly 12 percent of LAPD's uniformed officers, yet that 12 percent generate roughly 60 percent of LAPD's excessive force lawsuits. Women use greater force more often than their male counterparts when put on the streets as police officers, yet the LAPD, politicians, and the press never discuss it. Prosecutors have not pursued a single female officer in L.A. during the past 25 years despite this data.