What is your opinion on Chief Daryl Gates?

Question

I'm researcing Gates for a Law and Ethics Class. I'm divided. In one way, he seems like he IS racist, sexist, and power hungry. In another way, he did alot of good So I'm wondering what are other's thoughts on him... and please give your reasons. (don't just say i hate him, tell me why and vice versa) Intelligent answers please. Thank you:-)

Answer 1

I think overall he is a great man, he created SWAT and Dare, which are great programs. LAPD is actually one of the most progressive place agencies in the world thanks to him.

He is arrogant and power hungry, in order to be a Chief in a major city these characteristics are a job requirement. As far as being a racist, as so often is the case It is just a ploy used by his enemies to attack him.

But like so many politicians (Police Chiefs are politicians) he stayed on far to long. He did not handle and anticipate the riots as he should have and it justifiably ended his career. Overall he made great contributions to Law Enforcement

Just for the record I am an ex cop, been on SWAT teams and a DARE officer.

Answer 2

1. I liked Gates when he was Chief. He did his job as best he could. Los Angeles is a big, big city spread out, and the police can only be in so many places at once. The Rodney King beating was reprehensible, but Gates did not condone it. Individuals took that action of their own accord. Justice was eventually served & King was awarded a settlement rightly so.

2. After Gates retired as Chief, he did some radio, I believe, on KFI. He was very interesting, and sincere in his POV regarding protecting the people, & the reality of what police are up against.

3. He said something that must have stuck with him as a child — it stuck with me as an adult. To paraphrase: We all knew who the bullies were in school & which ones were headed for trouble with the law later on. I found that to be very true in reflection.

4. A common misconception about the police is that they are suppose to be there to prevent crimes. I don't know about you, but I don't think that criminals go out of their way, unless they are clinically insane, to commit crimes within view of the police.

5. L.A. is always needing more police. Recruits are sent out to other state BCAs. I have a relative whose department out-of-state got a LA recruiter.

Answer 3

The Positive :Man ahead of his time ,Broken Window,Dare,Swat the list goes on.Tactic's used by law enforcement Nationwide to this day...

The Inside of this Monster:He is with out question the most racist piece of sh!t to wear a badge since J. Edgar Hoover.A halfhearted search of statements HE has made will remove any doubt !!! His statement addressing the Rodney King Beating was the match that ignited talk about taking the City even before the Rodney King Trial had began...

Answer 4

Gates was the best thing that ever happened to L.A. The people who followed him have been incompetent, and corrupt. The department under his direction was in most cases very efficient. Some of the rogue officers he hired were eventually removed and replaced with people who respected and enforced the laws of the state of Calif.

Answer 5

I think that the force liked him because he was sort of a "cop's cop". He was a little rough and tumble and not so politically correct so he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. I think he did a lot of good things for the LAPD, but he sort of became a bit of an anachronym.

Modern policing is better suited to guys like Bratton.

Answer 6

I don't know much about him, except that his administration seemed to be effective, albeit not very "politically correct."

Politically correct doesn't tend to solve problems, though.....I guess a legacy always contains a balance between positive and negative factors, and one would hope that history would show a tendency toward the former.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Political correctness is not how to fight crime, lawlessness trancends the color barrier.

Answer 8

i dont like gates