This just in from the Los Angeles Police Protective League:
LAPPL REVOKES ENDORSEMENT OF TOM UMBERG
Los Angeles, June 1, 2006- In a highly dramatic move, the Los Angeles Police Protective League today withdrew its endorsement for Tom Umberg, who is running for State Senate District in the 34th District (Garden Grove). The move follows Umberg's support in the State Assembly of AB1882, a bill that could jeopardize the safety of Angelenos and local visitors.
It is extremely unusual for the LAPPL to withdraw its endorsement from a candidate that it has supported for years – the more so when that officeholder is a current Assemblyman with good reputation. Nonetheless, that is what the LAPPL is doing today.
AB1882 will prevent the LAPD from taking charge of any catastrophe or natural disaster at the airport, and instead put that responsibility into the hands of the Los Angeles Airport Police, a small police force that has limited disaster response experience, and spends most of its time handling unattended baggage, shoplifting and dignitary escorts.
“The board of the Los Angeles Police Protective League cannot support a state politician who doesn't understand the difference between local and state issues, and who is either misunderstanding or not caring about the importance of homeland security in making law enforcement decisions. It is outrageous that state officials, such as Tom Umberg chose to get involved in what is exclusively a local matter, and to make a decision that puts Angelenos at risk. Tom Umberg has lost the confidence of our membership,” said Bob Baker, President of the League.
About the LAPPL
Formed in 1922, 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 serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com
Two things, officers:
A) Would you mind removing us from your chokehold?
2) Who knew LA cops gave a rat's ass about an OC State Senate race?
Uh, guys, again with the chokehold…
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.