JUL/AUG/SEP - Long Beach Police Officers Association

SIS is now also recognized and
emulated nationwide for its year
in year out great work. The
concept of following known murderous
suspects from the prison
gates when they were paroled to
their next crime is extremely successful.
It bothered the ACLU and
those command staff members,
referred to above, because
the confrontation with armed
murderers and SIS would sometimes
end with cops killing the
suspects who were armed. Many
in the media and community
activists continually criticized the
SIS unit. Again, Chief Gates never
wavered and was steadfast in his
support. His dedication created a
very strong morale in the Department
and established an attitude
that was not planned, but was
the direct result of Chief Gates’
faith in his units – No one
wanted to be the one who let
him down! The Chief also put
great leadership in place with
leaders like Lieutenant Danny
Bowser in SIS, Lieutenants Bob
Smitson, Pat McKinley and Jeff
Rogers in SWAT.
The Chief was every bit as
supportive of his patrol cops. He
did not expect them to be
perfect. He expected them to try
to be perfect and always to be
honest. When his officers were
not perfect, but acted reasonably,
he backed them up. This
drove his critics and the media
to try to make a chaotic and
violent police versus suspect
use-of-force event look like the
cops were racist. Many chiefs of
police have succumbed to that
kind of attack. Chief Gates
never did. His officers understood
when he disciplined or
fired an officer who deserved it.
They watched and were grateful
as they saw him always do the
right thing.
The Chief worked closely with
the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department and their outstanding
SWAT unit, The Special
Enforcement Bureau (SEB). He
supported LAPD SWAT’s close
relationship with the FBI
Hostage Rescue Team (HRT),
especially during the 1984
preparation for the Olympic
Games security effort. During
his last days as Chief, when the
media and politicians were in a
feeding frenzy because the
inept arrest of Rodney King
finally gave them something to
hurt the Chief with, SEB deputies
presented him with his own
SEB SWAT Utilities, complete
with his name and Sheriff’s
badge on the shirt. As his
retirement drew close, SEB and
“D” Platoon were in daily
contact with Chief Gates and
his family. Their support of him
was constant.
The chief retired amid chaos,
riots and total distortion of the
truth. As any officer, no matter
what his race, who really knew
the Chief would tell you, “The
Chief would not tolerate racism –
all he ever saw was the color of
LAPD blue.”
From his retirement in 1992 to
his last days, he saw the officers
he was so loyal to, and he was
given message after message
from the rank and file of LAPD
and officers in law enforcement
throughout the United States of
their steadfast loyalty, admiration,
and respect. He often
experienced standing ovations
upon his entering an auditorium
or banquet or meeting place.
Introductions were not necessary,
and he was often overcome
by the spontaneous applause
when he entered a room. He
deserved every bit of this recognition
and applause. He was
always surprised and grateful for
the recognition. It was well
deserved in light of his enormous
contribution to law
enforcement and the impact he
had on law enforcement officers.
His example to all who served
under him should be an eternal
message to all police executives
everywhere. If you are steadfast
and dedicated to honor, courage,
and professional conduct, if you
are not intimidated or corrupted
by politics, you will be known to
cops across America as their
hero. I know he is mine.
RAP SHEET 21