Letters to the Editor

To All Police Chiefs

Across the nation, law enforcement agencies are grappling with a crisis unlike any we’ve faced in recent memory. Departments in California have seen staffing levels plunge to 30-year lows, and nationwide, recruitment and retention struggles threaten the very fabric of effective policing. Response times are increasing, specialized units are being stretched thin, and communities are left wondering if help will come when they call.

But where many see a problem, some see an opportunity.

Chief Andy Mills of Palm Springs, Calif. has done just that. In response to the sweeping purge of FBI agents under the Trump-aligned “Project 2025” agenda – targeting professionals who dared to investigate January 6th insurrectionists, domestic terrorism and political corruption – Chief Mills is extending a hand to these displaced agents. He’s offering them not just a job but a place where their integrity, dedication and commitment to justice are valued.

This is more than a recruitment strategy; it’s a call to action for the soul of American law enforcement.

These FBI agents didn’t lose their positions because they failed in their duties. They lost them because they excelled – because they pursued the truth without fear or favor, even when it led to uncomfortable places. They embody the very principles that policing is supposed to stand for: integrity, courage and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.

Imagine the strength your departments could gain by welcoming these professionals into your ranks:

Experience Beyond Compare: These agents bring expertise in complex investigations – organized crime, counterterrorism, cybercrime, public corruption – skills that can elevate any department.

A Moral Compass Intact: They’ve stood firm against political pressure. That kind of moral clarity is invaluable in leadership, mentorship and community trust-building.

Immediate Impact: They don’t need basic training; they need a badge, a mission and a community to serve.

Law enforcement isn’t just about enforcing laws; it’s about defending democracy. If we’re to rebuild public trust, we need officers who’ve proven, under the harshest scrutiny, that they cannot be swayed by political winds or personal gain. Who better than those who risked their careers to protect our Constitution?

I urge you to follow Chief Mills’s lead. Open your doors to these displaced agents. Show your community that your department values truth over politics, courage over conformity, and justice over convenience.

Because at the end of the day, the badge we wear isn’t just metal, it’s a symbol of the oath we took. Let’s honor it by standing with those who never betrayed theirs.

Stephen Downing
Deputy Chief, LAPD (ret.)

You Can Do Something 

The voters of Long Beach who are concerned about the current attack on our democracy need to push our local elected officials to stop the city’s connection with Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

The Port of Long Beach leases 15 acres of the Port to the SpaceX company owned by Elon Musk. Musk with the blessing of Donald Trump has launched an attack on several federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration which fined SpaceX for safety violations. Musk called for the resignation of the head of the FAA, which took place before the inauguration. 

Leasing port property in the state tidelands area to a company that will not operate with the highest level of safety must be stopped.

Additionally, Long Beach prides itself on receiving the highest rating from the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index. Elon Musk and Donald Trump have launched an attack on the transgender community. Musk announced he is moving the SpaceX headquarters from nearby Hawthorne to Texas in protest of a state law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that prevents California schools from notifying parents if their children identify as transgender. Musk can move the remainder of SpaceX from Long Beach to Texas.

A continued association with Elon Musk and Donald Trump makes the city and Port of Long Beach complicit with the illegal, unsafe and discriminatory policies of Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

Send an email to Long Beach elected officials and appointed members of the Harbor Commission, which oversees the port, as well as the California State Tidelands Commission:

Gerrie Schipske, RNP/JD 

Trump Jan. 6 Pardons

As a Beachcomber subscriber living but often visiting Long Beach from New Hampshire, I condemn the pardons that President Trump issued to the attackers of the Capitol, including the attacks on police officers.

Peter F. Somssich
[The writer is a former New Hampshire representative]

MO Books Audit

Where is the outrage and audit for the 5900 block of Lime Avenue and Atlantic Avenue for all the duplexes, single family homes and businesses that were demolished and the residents and businesses displaced from what became a vacant lot for about 20 years?

The Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (aka MO Books) does not pay any taxes and does not house any residents and does not create any retail revenue or sales as the businesses on Lime Atlantic did. 

How many residents were displaced when the city mowed down all those homes on Lime Avenue? How many viable businesses were closed and mowed over? Why did the city do that and have had a vacant lot for so many years?

Where is the comprehensive investigation and audit?

Tom Swanner