The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 239

2 Aug. 17, 1975 Cochee Claims Councilman Involved in Gambling Plot Pico Rivera's Hudc Finn Week to Begin on Aug. 18 BY TOM GORMAN Times Staff Writer lllillfc Til iiatsilllt lit! stir men have indicated that the charges would prove "embarrassing" to Cochee Cochee said Thursday he has not heard of any charges aginst him, and responded with his own charges, asking the state's attorney general to "investigate certain police officers for malfeasance in office and the possibility of conspiracy or collusion to take over the Police Department and deliver its administration to criminal elements." He further claimed that the City Council has not allowed him to fill personnel positions within the department an attempt, he says, to weaken the police force. "It's a progressive plot to humiliate me, demoralize me, strip me of power and play on my pride," Cochee said. "They want me to tuck in my tail and run." Cochee said new hirings within the Police Department have been blocked under the "guise" of a hiring moratorium ordered by the council last month, but that "I still see new faces in City Hall in other departments.

Danny Lim has been allowed to hire some people, but he told me the council has denied my request to hire people." Cochee, 43, said he considered quitting his job several weeks ago, following the suspension of then City Manager James Wilson and the subsequent appointment of Lim to the post. Lim moved quickly to fire Asst. City Manager David Crompton and two lesser ranking employes. "There's a strong human inclination," Cochee said, "to remove one's self from such a turmoil. But I can't think of any amount of money the city could come up with that would make me resign now." NEW PRESIDENT Robert Hamro, Bell Gardens optometrist, is new president of Bell Gardens Chamber of Commerce.

He was installed at a dinner meeting held recently at Los Amigos Country Club, Downey. Cochee would not identify which councilmen were involved in the alleged plan, but claimed that at least one member of the council is a convicted feloa He refused to identify thecouncilmaa He further claimed that there was "a small nucleus" of officers involved in the conspiracy, including at least one "ranking" officer. Cochee did not offer any evidence to substantiate his claim, and said he reached his conclusion because of "the level and frequency of rumors" and the associations he claim exist among members of his department, council-men and unnamed persons with the "questionable background." Cochee's charge of a criminal conspiracy was one of several made by him last week, in the wake of his transfer from police chief of the 263-man department to "special assignment" to the city manager's office. That move was taken last week by Daniel Lim, acting city manager, who said Cochee will evaluate the Police Department and federal programs affecting the department Though Lim did not need council approval for his action, only Mayor Doris Davis opposed the action. Councilman Hillard Hamm said at that time that Lim's office is investigating "serious charges" against Cochee.

Hamm did not elaborate, but other council- COMPTON Police Chief Thomas W. Cochee has charged that at least one member of the City Council is involved in a conspiracy to establish a "West Coast gambling mecca" in Comptoa As a means to that end, Cochee claimed, he has been ousted as police chief in an attempt to weaken the department Cochee made that and other charges last week in announcing that he has asked the secretary of state, the State Attorney General's Office and the State Legislature to "investigate city government in Comptoa" Though he says other city administrative actions in recent weeks seem peculiar to him, the question of a criminal conspiracy to attract gambling to Compton concerns him most "There has been a conspiracy within my department to undermine my administration," said Cochee, for two years the police chief here. "I have seen officers in my department conversing with certain city councilmen with questionable backgrounds and they in turn conversing with other persons with questionable backgrounds. "They want me removed from office so that they can get a better hold of Comptoa These forces are interested in setting up a West Coast gambling mecca," Cochee charged. or playgrounds at 8 am before leaving for the fishing event The Pico Rivera Optimists will stock the fishing area.

Also on Monday, 15- to 19-year-olds will perform at a talent show in Rio Hondo Park. The show begins at 7:30 pjn. An All-City Soap Box Derby will be off to a start at 630 pjiu Tuesday. A portion of Rosemead Blvd. near the Whittier Narrows Dam will be blocked off.

A bus trip to Disneyland has been scheduled Wednesday for children 7 to 12 years of age. Buses will leave from Rio Hondo, Pico-Rivera and Smith parks at 9 am Cost of Disneyland admission and rides is $4.50 for youngsters 11 years old and younger, $5 for those 12 to 17 years of age and $5.50 for adults. Registration is being taken at all city parks and playgrounds and at City HalL The annual Huck Finn Parade will be held at 11 am, Thursday. An estimated 400 children will take part in pulling floats built at parks and playgrounds. The parade begins at Jackson St.

and Durfee proceeds west on Jackson to Passons south on Passons to Mines Ave. and east on Mines to Smith Park. Free refreshments and prizes will be provided by the Chamber of Commerce at a carnival at Smith Park following the parade. Activities end at 5:30 p.m. Friday with a luau at the swimming pool at El Rancho High for youngsters who helped build the parade floats.

PICO RIVERA A parade, carnival and soap box derby are among the attractions for youngsters during the 17th annual Huck Finn Week, Monday through Friday, Aug. 18-22. The Parks and Recreation Department schedule of events includes Fishing, beginning at 9 a.m., Monday, in a dammed up portion of the San Gabriel River just south of Whittier Blvd. Children will meet at park areas South Gate OKs Disability Plan SOUTH GATE This city has dropped the state workmen's compensation plan in favor of a self-insurance program backed by an insurance policy for payments over $100,000. Action by the City Council came on advice of Larry Leonard, finance director, who reports that state premiums for disability coverage of about 350 people would climb $65,000 to $285,000 for fiscal 1975-76.

Under the new plan which is retroactive to July 1, the city will cover most workmen's compensation costs, but insurance through Cal-Surance of Torrance will provide payments between $100,000 and $1 million, for a premium of $5,535. Administration of the self-insurance program, including recommendations on which claims to pay, will be through Insurance Technology the city legislators agreed. City Offers Bus Rides to Beach SANTA FE SPRINGS Bus trips to Huntington Beach Pier are scheduled Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The bus leaves Town Center Hall parking lot at 1030 am Bus riders will be picked up at the pier at 3:30 pm Cost of the trip is 50 cents per person. Children less than 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Riders may take surfboards and other equipment, space permitting. Registrations are taken Monday through Friday at Town Center HalL Trips are sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department. JEUIELS The Surprise Lunch DESIGNERS I DIAMONDS WATCHES I Every Thursday from 2 PM to 10 PM except holidays JEWELRY CUSTOM REX3UHTIK8 REPAIRS Bucno Park Cantor Tht May Co. Ntut to large fresh salads, seafoods, sandwiches, omelettes, great beef dishes, steaks and more. Twenty-six outstanding lunches.

Shamefully luxurious surroundings. Surprisingly affordable everyday prices. You wont believe the lunches 827-2201 0 at The Velvet Turtle. Homemade Soup In South Gate, 2 bl. east of the Long Beach Fwy.

at Firestone o) Garfield. 923-2101. GUI $5.3 Million Budget OK by Lowell District Board A $5.3 million budget for the Lowell Joint School District, to be financed in part by a local property tax levy of $263 per $100 assessed valuation, has been adopted by the Board of Trustees for the 1975-76 fiscal year. The tax rate is up three cents over last year. Still to be determined are salary increases for district teachers and other personnel Such an increase will have to be funded through the district's reserve fund of $243,416, which is about $100,000 less than last year, said Bill Anthis, acting superintendent Every 1 increase in salaries will cost the district about $35,000, Anthis said.

Because of declining enrollment and a subsequent loss of state aid, district officials have been forced to eliminate 24 teaching positions and nine classified positions, Anthis said. With the personnel cutbacks has come the elimination of a number of elective courses. Student enrollment next fall is expected to be 4,226, a drop of about 387 students from last year, he said. Eileen Heil Wins Honey of an Award LYNWOOD Eileen Heil, local resident, has been awarded the annual Honey Story Contest for a narrative poem, "Beelines in History." The award is sponsored by the Valley Honey Assn. of Stocktoa -v- suo gaiau Choice of Potato Dinner Roll Also in Long Beach, at 530 East 33rd, 426-0391.

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