Council Candidate Sets Record Straight

* Regarding the July 17 article announcing my candidacy for Simi Valley City Council, I’d like to set the record straight for your readership.

First, I am a nine-year-plus veteran of the Simi Valley Police Department. I was a three-year police officer for the city of San Gabriel before transferring to Simi Valley.

Second, I never said that crime in Simi Valley was “nearing a point of no return.” As my press release states: “And the gangs . . . once they’ve established a foothold (which is truly not that far away), you can kiss it goodbye entirely.” My point was that the gang situation must be strictly monitored and controlled before they’ve established a foothold.

Finally, I said that my intention as a council member would be to “winnow the Neanderthals from within the department and remove the deadwood supervisors who have been there forever and refuse to accept change.” Furthermore, I said that it’s the majority of management (lieutenants) and the administration who are preventing this department from being a top-notch pro-active police department. Almost all the sergeants and a couple of lieutenants are the exception to change, and they know who they are.

DAVID WEINER

Simi Valley