FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jude Schneider (310) 854-8251
Eric Rose (805) 624-0572
LAPPL Responds to LA Times Columnist by Tim Sands
The tragic shooting death of Officer Randy Simmons brought out the best in the Los Angeles media. While we are frequently critical of the media’s response, numerous local media outlets went all out to cover Randy’s funeral. While many heartfelt, moving profiles of Randy appeared in every local paper, we were disappointed that one Los Angeles Times columnist used his column to take a cheap shot at LAPD officers and our union. The Los Angeles Police Protective League submitted the following letter in response to the column by Tim Rutten that appeared in the Times on Wednesday, February 20th.
Re: Our pandering mayor
Let’s get this straight: Tim Rutten politicizes Officer Simmons’ funeral by writing a column in which he accuses the Mayor of politicizing the funeral? And he accuses the Mayor of reckless comments in a column in which he balances the heroism of Officer Simmons by noting “On the other hand, there are the corrupt, brutal and racist cops…”? Is Rutten so smitten with his own language that he misses the irony here? The “rhetorical lowpoint” Rutten speaks of is not the Mayor’s remarks; it is his own deeply insulting, insensitive and politically biased non-reporting that attempts to belittle what was a profoundly moving funeral for a true hero.
Tim Sands
President
Los Angeles Police Protective League
1308 West 8th StreetLos Angeles CA 90017
About the LAPPL
Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,000 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com