THE POLICE PROBE

Because of my great respect for the burdens faced by our City Council, I hesitate to criticize Councilwoman Judy McCarty for taking an ax to City Manager John Lockwood’s thorough and professional report on L’Affair Kolender.

Her proper approach would have been internal discussion with her colleagues and the mayor, if she was unhappy with the Lockwood report. The mayor or deputy mayor could have scheduled a conference with Lockwood. If she’s unhappy with the Lockwood performance, she is welcome to seek council support for his ouster (fat chance of that . . . council persons and citizens are still dancing in the street over having John Lockwood take the “hot seat” of being city manager).

If Councilwoman McCarty wants to do something for the citizens, a la traffic and parking citations, I urge that she work with the city attorney and court officials to have “one-stop shopping,” which means that citizens can contest a traffic citation of any nature with but one personal court appearance instead of two. All that is needed is to have a written request for trial setting, and on the one day it’s heard, all of the citations issued by a particular parking or traffic officer are set for the same morning or afternoon session. The citizen then pleads guilty or not guilty and has a hearing with the appropriate officer. The current practice is a tremendous waste of the public’s time and encourages their inquiry to other officials.

MICHAEL SCHAEFER

La Jolla