The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 651

Coo Angeles (Eitnee 8 Pin IXSunday, November 4, 1984 HD POLICE: Compton Chief Defends Department GANDHI: Assassination tj' i Tl tit Continued from Page 1 much blood before calm comes," he said. Like other Indians who operate a handful of grocery and sari stores and restaurants along Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, Arora did not open for business the morning after Gandhi was slain. Instead Arora, the restaurant's owner and a handful of friends sat in one of the restaurant's leather booths, the blinds on the front windows drawn, and drank coffee and talked for hours about Gandhi's death. "It's like a death in the family. You want to be with people you can trust," Arora said.

According to the 1980 census, 58,000 Indians were living in California, with about 19,000 in Los Angeles County, including a large pocket in Artesia, Norwalk and Cerritos. Like Gandhi, most Indians in the Southeast area are Hindus. Hinduism is India's predominant religion. Most Sikhs in California live in West Los Angeles or north of Sacramento in the Yuba City area, where they own thousands of acres of farmland. Madhu Mehta, 50, who operates a small chain of drive-in dairy stores in Santa Fe Springs, grew up in western India, only a few miles from the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mehta was asleep when word of the assassination first was aired on television. "My sister called and woke me with the news. My first feeling was utter shame," Mehta said at his store. As a teen-ager in India in the 1940s, Mehta marched with Mahatma Gandhi, embracing the leader's pleas for nonviolent protests. When a hail of bullets cut down Indira Gandhi, Mehta said he felt "violated." "All my life I've preached against violence.

India was once the definition of peace but no more," Mehta said bitterly. Educated at New York University in the late 1950s, Mehta moved permanently to the United States in 1970. Mehta's wife, Kokila, who went to the Norwalk temple as soon as she learned of Gandhi's death, now fears for her countrymen. "It's sad because it is the general people, not the politicians or military, who will suffer from the violence that will follow," she said. "And the hatred (between Sikhs and Hindus) that will come will burn as bright and long as the sun." But some Indians, like Bhaikhau Patel, president of the Norwalk Hindu temple, the area's largest with 500 members, believe the country will survive the political turmoil that many predict will engulf it in the weeks ahead.

Patel said Gandhi's 40-year-old son Rajiv, who succeeds as prime minister, is not as strong, but "politics is in his blood" and in time he will learn to run India "with maturity." "India is a diverse nation, a nation of 700 million people, 15 languages and countless religions," Patel said. "But it is also a nation where people see themselves as Indians first and Sikhs or Hindus or Muslims second." have to go out and make speeches. He's very good at it, (but) that is not one of the things he enjoys." Nor does Carrington like to explain his decisions, said Rouzan. "I think Jim even saw me as a compromiser because I did explain," he said. A large plus for Carrington, said Filer, is that reported crime is down in Compton.

And City Manager Montgomery said Carrington has been innovative in fighting crime, creating the highly successful task force 18 months ago to zero in on special problems such as drugs and prostitution. Major crime dropped 5 in the city for the last fiscal year, though violent crime murder, rape, robbery and assault was up 6. Likewise, crime has dropped overall each year since at least 1976, with much of the reduction in thefts and burglaries. 'He Has the Respect' Carrington is pleased to stand on that record, and his job seems to be assured, at least for now. City Manager Montgomery enthusiastically supports him "he has the respect of his people over there" and the council majority is placing no pressure on her to replace him.

Carrington allowed that he "may" choose to retire in the not-so-distant future, and added, "I told my boss she would be the first to know. "As long as I'm here, whether it's one day or one year, I will perform my job to the best of my ability." Los Angeles Times to critics of Compton police. How to Get Ahead of TRUSTS PROPERTY BANKRUPTCY CONSUMER LAW BUSINESS PLANNING UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE INTERNATIONAL LAW NEGOTIATIONS CONTRACTS LABOR LAW TAXATION WORKERS COMPENSATION ESTATE PLANNING Earn a Law Degree from WSU. You'll be of your business colleagues who will turn to you foryour expert legal knowledge. Graduates qualify to take the California Bar Exam.

You'll chose from a full-range of business law courses including: Study Full-time or Part-time Days, Evenings, Weekends Classes Start January 14, 1985 Let Western State University put a degree of difference in your life. Chief James Carrington replies spring, he said. Whatever its manpower, Carrington insists his department is doing its job, sometimes in ways the public cannot detect or does not consider. No Taint of Corruption His force, unlike some others in Southern California, has not been tainted with scandal or corruption, he said. Nor does it face many suits or claims because of alleged police brutality, he said.

"On Oct. 19 we had two officers fired upon while taking somebody into custody without returning the fire," said Carrington. "That is a tribute to people who know their jobs. We have less officers involved in shootings than any other cities that have the type of crime rates we have." Then, his frustration showing, Carrington asked: "What is it that people want? The civil rights of all persons ought to be respected. We don't respond with the attitudes feelings and force that people exert upon us.

We're not the criminals. I am very proud of this organization." A top official of a large neighboring police department said Carrington has a right to be proud. After years of "real serious problems," Compton police now have a sound reputation, said the senior official, who requested anonymity. Rouzan, who named Carrington chief in 1980, said the Compton force has a much-improved reputation and that Carrington is widely respected by his peers. Boisterous Meeting Much less impressed were the dozen speakers, many representing neighborhood groups, at the boisterous Oct.

16 council meeting attended by about 150 people. Several said drug dealers have run them off their own sidewalks, and they insisted their calls to police for help are often met with rudeness and insensitivity. Block clubs chairwoman Moore said many officers, including Carrington, do not live in Compton and do not empathize with the concerns of residents. (She does not, however, support hiring sheriff's deputies to replace them. Carrington, a resident of Cypress since 1971, said Moore's comment was "hogwash" and defies logic.

"It's not where you live; it's an attitude," he said. "Concern is not proximity. "(But) it's not something unexpected from Miss Pat Moore. It's the kind of thinking that keeps people way back in the Dark Ages. When Miss Moore makes her scatterbrained remarks, I discount them.

I do have caring, skilled police officers." Carrington noted that Moore ran for City Council (in 1983) and mayor (in 1981), and added: "I told Miss Moore then that this office is not political and you cannot have support of this office as a political aspirant. I work at keeping politics out of this department." Moore said she has never sought the political support of Carrington or the police department, and, in fact, has never spoken to him except to say hello. "It's not a matter of Pat Moore," she said. "It's sad that he does not understand the cry of this community." Adams, a longtime critic of Car-rington's, said that he joins Moore in calling for a new chief. He said he supported Carrington, a police officer in Compton for all but three years since 1962, for the top job, but soon began to have second thoughts.

Adams would take citizens' complaints to Carrington at council executive sessions, "and he was always on the defensive," the councilman said. "This is one of the reasons I started to view him as not being sensitive to the needs of the people. I've been in conversations with him and he's always right and everyone else is always wrong." Equally troubling, said Adams, have been allegations by several police officers he knows well, who have said Carrington does not have control of his department and is not well respected by many of his men. 'I Am a Professional' Of Adams, Carrington said: "He's not a supporter of mine, but so what? I am a professional. I do my job, and I'm supposed to be concerned because Councilman Adams doesn't love me?" Carrington has been a controversial figure since he said at a banquet a year ago that he may retire because of a lack of council support.

Adams, Tucker and James each expressed irritation at the disclosure. James is now a Carrington supporter, however, and Tucker said he wants to work against crime, not "throw brickbats" at the chief. Carrington, once barely accessible to the public, has made strides in that area, said James. While the chief is not a person to "go down the street smiling all the time," he nonetheless attends meetings of residents' block clubs and participates at other public forums, said Filer. Rouzan also noted Carrington's "no-nonsense manner." "Jim is more an administrative type who knows how to handle personnel, how to look at the big picture, how to plan goals and objectives," said Rouzan.

"I can see how some people wouldn't necessarily like to work under that leadership. But you absolutely have to respect the man's capabilities. 'Doesn't Like Publicity' "He's not an introvert, but he does tend to keep a lot of things to himself. He doesn't like publicity When he took over the job, one of the things I mentioned to him was that the community likes a visible chief. I told him he would Continued from Page 1 ant Chief Gilbert Sandoval.

Three other major cocaine houses have been raided on nearby Central Avenue since August, Sandoval said. "We are making more arrests than ever before at Tragniew Park," said Carrington. (Leaders of the nine-member task force said two or three officers spend an average of two hours a day in the area. "(Residents) just don't know they're looking at (undercover officers)," Carrington said. "They really don't know what is going on.

They don't want to (consider) search warrants and the whole (legal) process." Similarly, Carrington said there is no way the public can properly evaluate him as chief, because his is primarily "a behind-the-scenes job," he said. "It's a thankless job. The legacy I will leave is a professional operation." Without fanfare, he has forced the first revision since 1973 of the police department's policies and procedures manual, said Carrington. Four-Year Process "It's taken me almost four years to reach (this point)," he said. "Purging those (officers) who should not have been here in the first place and changing some of the attitudes of those who want to remain here was a full-time job.

"I'm not going to say to you that none of our officers are rude, (but) you ought to look at the record on (officer) discipline," he said. It is true, he acknowledged, that there are Compton police officers who do not like him or his administration. "Some are disgruntled," he said, because they are made to perform at a higher level. Many other officers, he insisted, "are buying into this system" and are committed to making Compton a better place to live. Police Officer Assn.

officials could not be reached for comment. But Councilman Adams and Patricia Moore, chairwoman of the 150-unit, Compton United Council of Block Clubs, said officers are demoralized by the chief's poor leadership. Carrington is aloof even to members of his own force, said Adams. "I've had complaints from officers who say he'll walk by them and won't even speak to them," he said. Many officers are doing their best, said Moore, but others "have been beaten down internally within that department so they don't care." Some have left for lower-paying jobs on other forces, she said.

Filer, however, said everything he sees tells him Carrington is "doing an excellent job. He has great rapport with the men, he has great rapport with the community, and he has great rapport with the council, as far as I'm concerned." Department Vacancies The department does have vacancies that are tough to fill while retaining high standards, said Carrington. But it is no longer losing more officers to other police forces that it gains from them, said Assistant Chief Sandoval. Still, the department, with a budget for 143 full-time uniformed officers, has 22 vacancies, said Sgt. Hourie Taylor, who works in personnel.

Only about 10 of all applicants complete testing and training, he said. The department has lost several officers to retirement, and 12 others left to join former Police Chief and City Manager Joseph Rouzan when he became police chief of Inglewood in 1981, said Taylor. If recruitment goes as hoped, all vacancies could be filled by next Junior League's Rummage Sale to Be Held Nov. 10 LONG BEACH-The Junior League of Long Beach will sponsor its 33rd annual rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nov. 10 at the Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. A live auction sale will be held at noon. Items on sale will include antiques, collectibles, sporting goods, furniture, toys, linens and clothing.

The sale provides the opportunity for the public to purchase items at bargain prices, which are furthered reduced from 3 to 5 p.m., while the Junior League gains financial support for its projects. Information may be obtained by calling 494-4389. Hospice Seminar Set LONG BEACH-The Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross will conduct a hospice seminar on the care of elderly, terminally ill persons from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov.

14 at 3150 East 29th St. Cost is $8, or $12 if taken for continuing-education credit. Reservations may be made by calling 595-6341. WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY College of Law State College Boulevard. Fullerton, the MBA's Fully accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California and by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

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