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Published on 09/18/1995 All articles from this issue

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Police take big step for accountability

Los Altos Police Chief Lucy Carlton has ordered an internal investigation of a July 22 altercation between a city police officer and a Mountain View man. Furthermore, she's asked the FBI to conduct its own independent investigation.

These are clearly the right steps to show department accountability, especially these days when officers like Mark Fuhrman of the O.J. Simpson trial fame and the Rodney King incident are giving law enforcement agencies a black eye.

We're hoping the department follows through on that accountability stance and reveals the findings of its investigation to the public.

The son of the man involved in the altercation has already made the issue very public by distributing fliers and showcasing signs alleging police brutality. The charge is out in the open and must be addressed openly.

Police departments offer security by patrolling neighborhoods and apprehending the "bad guys" who threaten and harm our residents. But the best departments also offer comfort through open and honest dealings with the public. That should extend from the police chief to the officer on patrol.

We've taken comfort in the fact that Carlton has stressed accountability on her own. Let's hope that accountability continues.

Police protection decision disappointing

The decision by Los Altos Hills City Council last week not to even consider a proposal for police protection from Los Altos was disappointing.

Instead of fully exploring the option of contracting with another agency, council members stuck with the Sheriff's Office, chiefly because the county agency had been contracting with the town all along.

The Sheriff's Office had made some concessions since initially demanding $155,000 in upfront money from the town toward building a Saratoga substation. Officials scrapped the substation idea and instead decided to set up a patrol at the Heritage House, right next to Town Hall. That certainly addresses concerns that deputies would be traveling all the way from Saratoga to patrol the Hills.

Los Altos city officials aren't particularly bothered by the decision and this isn't the first time the subject has come up. But it's too bad Los Altos Hills decided to close the door yet again and go with business as usual.

We feel the town should keep the door open to see whether it can get a better deal.