Gates Told to Spell Out Police Stand on Religion

Responding to what some contend is the growing presence of “born-again” Christians among ranking officers, the Los Angeles Police Commission has directed that Chief Daryl F. Gates draft a policy statement intended to prohibit religion from influencing any Police Department activity.

Commission President Robert M. Talcott said Thursday that, once drafted and approved, the statement will be disseminated throughout the department, reminding all of the LAPD’s 7,000 officers and 2,500 civilian workers that “religion has no direct place in the workplace.”

The commission’s action came after The Times on Sunday reported that officials of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the department’s union, fear that some fundamentalist Christians on the force have been given favorable consideration when applying for promotions and transfers.

‘Just Common Sense’

“In reviewing the existing policies and statements that regulate the department, there is nothing that directly addresses this issue of religion--because it’s just common sense,” Talcott said. “You would think that everyone would have been ingrained with the idea that you just don’t mix any religion in the office. . . .

“The import of (the policy statement) is going to be that, without detracting from First Amendment rights to express one’s views, religion has no direct place in the workplace and that positions, advancements, promotions and assignments will not be based upon any consideration whatsoever of religious philosophies, and that if we find out that that is going on, the person will be subject to discipline.”

Cmdr. William Booth, a spokesman for Gates, said he did not know how long it will take the chief’s staff to prepare the statement, which was ordered by commissioners after a discussion Tuesday behind closed doors. Gates has publicly steered clear of the religion issue, declining to disclose even his own religious leanings.

Much of the concern about religion within the department has focused on its No. 2 administrator, Assistant Chief Robert L. Vernon, a lay elder at a fundamentalist church in the San Fernando Valley who helps organize religious retreats that attract hundreds of Los Angeles police officers.

Vernon earns thousand of dollars each year from lecturing on Christian subjects and from the sale of Christian books and tapes, according to city financial disclosure statements. His current chief of staff and adjutant, and two of his immediate past adjutants, are born-again Christians, a fact that the assistant chief has dismissed as coincidental.

Vernon has insisted that he is careful to keep separate his departmental and religious duties. Several of his co-workers agreed with that contention.

George V. Aliano, president of the Police Protective League, said Thursday that he was pleased with the commission’s decision directing Gates to draft the religion policy statement.