7/11/02

LC020711

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS. THE BAD GUYS USUALLY GET CAUGHT, BUT SO DO SOME INNOCENT BYSTANDERS.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> MOM IS 76, DAD IS 79. THEY SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST AND HERE THEY ARE IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS AND THEY WERE ROBBED OF THEIR GOLDEN YEARS BECAUSE OF THIS SENSELESS POLICE PURSUIT.

VAL>> MORE THAN HALF OF ALL PURSUITS ARE TRIGGERED BY MINOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. TONIGHT WE'LL ASK L.A. POLICE COMMISSION PRESIDENT, RICK CARUSO, IF IT'S TIME TO RETHINK THE LAPD'S POLICY AS TO WHEN TO CHASE AND WHEN NOT TO.

JESS>> ALSO, PATT MORRISON WANTS TO PUNISH SOME HIGH-FLYING SCALAWAGS.

PATT MORRISON>> FROM PINSTRIPES TO PRISON STRIPES, DREAM ON. CROOKED CEO'S AND CORPORATE REFORMS -- ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND THEIR ROOTS STRETCH BACK TO ANCIENT JAPAN.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> BUT THIS IS ONE GROUP OF PERFORMERS WITH A THOROUGHLY MODERN PEDIGREE. TONIGHT YOU'LL HEAR THE BEAT OF A DIFFERENT DRUM.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

CHANCES ARE, YOU CAN'T RESIST THEM WHEN THEY POP UP AS BREAKING NEWS ON ONE OF THE LOCAL TV CHANNELS. HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS. THEY CAN BE FILLED WITH DRAMA AND LOS ANGELES HAS MORE OF THEM THAN ANY OTHER CITY. BUT WHEN POLICE AND CRIMINALS DRIVE FAST, INNOCENT PEOPLE SOMETIMES GET HURT.

VAL>> TWO RECENT ACCIDENTS HAVE RAISED SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PURSUIT POLICY. AS IT STANDS, THE LAPD IS ALLOWED TO START A CHASE FOR ANY KIND OF VIOLATION, NO MATTER HOW SMALL. SO IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE? AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THE VICTIMS SAY IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

GAY YEE>> FOUR-YEAR-OLD EVELYN VARGAS DIED LAST MONTH AT THE SCENE OF A DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES ACCIDENT. SHE WAS WITH HER MOTHER WAITING FOR A BUS WHEN A CAR SLAMMED INTO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE POLE FELL AND CRUSHED HER. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH? A MAN DRIVING A STOLEN VEHICLE WHO WAS BEING CHASED BY POLICE. OFFICERS HAD SEEN HIM DRIVING DANGEROUSLY.

DAVID DOAN>> THE SUSPECT MOVED AROUND TRAFFIC, DROVE UP ONTO A SIDEWALK, ENDANGERING PEOPLE THERE, AND THEN TOOK OFF. AT THE SAME TIME THAT THAT WAS GOING ON, THE OFFICERS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPORTEDLY BEING STOLEN.

GAY YEE>> DAYS AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE POLICE COMMISSION DEMANDED THAT THE LAPD EXPLAIN ITS PURSUIT POLICY. ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP TO TESTIFY WAS STEPHANY YABLOW. HER PARENTS WERE ALSO INNOCENT VICTIMS OF A DRIVER TRYING TO EVADE POLICE.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> BEFORE MARCH 16 TURNED OUR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, MOM AND DAD LIVED IN THEIR HOME QUITE INDEPENDENTLY, COMPLETELY INDEPENDENTLY. THEY TRAVELED. THEY ENTERTAINED. MOM STILL HUNG LAUNDRY ON THE LINE. SHE COOKED. SHE BAKED. SHE DID HER SHOPPING. THEY HAVE A JACUZZI THEY ENJOYED. ALL THAT CAME TO A GRINDING HALT IN ONE MOMENT IN TIME ON THE 16TH OF MARCH.

GAY YEE>> ANNA AND HENRY POLIVODA WENT FOR A WALK NEAR THE BEVERLY CENTER ON A BUSY SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN MARCH. THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE HIT.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THEY'RE NOT AMBULATORY. THIS HOUSE HAS TURNED INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE A REHAB FACILITY WITH WALKERS AND WHEELCHAIRS AND ALL KINDS OF PARAPHERNALIA.

GAY YEE>> YABLOW LEARNED THAT THE PURSUIT STARTED WHEN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE OFFICERS TRIED TO PULL OVER A CAR WITH EXPIRED PLATES.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THAT REALLY UPSET ALL OF US VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE SEVERITY OF THE SUSPECT'S VIOLATION WARRANTED A POLICE CHASE THROUGH BUSY CITY STREETS TO WHERE MY PARENTS GOT INJURED. IT JUST MADE NO SENSE.

GAY YEE>> LAPD DEPUTY CHIEF, DAVID DOAN, SAID THE OFFICERS HAD ALREADY BROKEN OFF THE CHASE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY DECIDED IT WAS BECOMING TOO DANGEROUS.

DAVID DOAN>> FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE OFFICERS WERE NOT ACTIVELY BEHIND THE SUSPECT. HE HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO SLOW DOWN AND ABANDON HIS CAR IF THAT'S WHAT HE CHOSE TO DO AND RUN OFF. INSTEAD, HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE ERRATICALLY AND GET INVOLVED IN A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN THOSE TRAGIC INJURIES.

GAY YEE>> YABLOW DOESN'T BUY THE LAPD'S EXPLANATION. SHE SAYS A POLICE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO FOLLOW THE SUSPECT'S CAR AND OTHER LAPD VEHICLES WERE IN THE AREA.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> EVEN ASSUMING THAT THE PRIMARY VEHICLE, THE POLICE VEHICLE THAT STARTED THE PURSUIT WAY BACK ON HIGHLAND AND PICKFORD, WAS NOT ON TOP OF HIM, EVERYBODY ELSE WAS. THAT'S STILL PART OF THE PURSUIT. HE'S STILL FEELING THE PRESSURE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON HIS TAIL.

DAVID DOAN>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THE OFFICERS COULD HAVE DONE OTHER THAN CHOSE NOT TO TRY TO PULL OVER THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST PLACE. YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT IS THE SUSPECT WHO CHOSE TO RUN.

GAY YEE>> NOW DOAN HEADS A COMMITTEE EVALUATING THE DEPARTMENT'S PURSUIT POLICY. THEIR REPORT IS DUE IN SEPTEMBER. L.A. CITY COUNCILWOMAN, CINDY MISCIKOWSKI, WAS ALREADY QUESTIONING THE POLICY. SHE CHAIRS THE COUNCIL'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

CINDY MISCIKOWSKI>> I HAVE JUST SEEN PRELIMINARY REPORTS ON THE TWO ACCIDENTS AND, AT LEAST PRELIMINARILY, BOTH SEEM TO HAVE BEEN "WITHIN POLICY". THAT CAUSES US SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT THE POLICY ITSELF, IF THAT KIND OF "IN POLICY" PURSUIT CAN LEAD TO THOSE KINDS OF TRAGEDIES. THE QUESTION IS, DOES THE POLICY NEED TO BE TIGHTENED, AND I THINK IT SERIOUSLY DOES.

GAY YEE>> ACLU PRESIDENT, RAMONA RIPSTON, IS JOINING THE CALL FOR RE-EVALUATION. SHE SENT THE POLICE COMMISSION A REPORT HER ORGANIZATION ISSUED IN 1996 CALLED "NOT JUST ISOLATED INCIDENTS: THE EPIDEMIC OF POLICE PURSUITS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA".

RAMONA RIPSTON>> WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT ENGAGES IN HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS NO MATTER WHAT. WE FOUND AT THAT TIME THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT, SO THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN POLICY WHICH POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE.

GAY YEE>> RIPSTON DISAGREES WITH THE POLICE CONTENTION THAT A PERSON WHO FLEES OFFICERS HAS USUALLY COMMITTED A CRIME.

RAMONA RIPSTON>> THERE ARE REASONS WHY PEOPLE FLEE. YOU MAY HAVE TWO TICKETS AND YOU DON'T WANT A THIRD TICKET BECAUSE YOUR INSURANCE RATES WILL SKYROCKET. SO THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCING BETWEEN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND WHAT IT IS THE POLICE THINK THE FLEEING PERSON HAS DONE.

GAY YEE>> THE LAPD'S DOAN SAYS THE ISSUE IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. CRITICS HAVE TOLD HIM THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ADOPT A PURSUIT POLICY MORE LIKE SANTA MONICA'S WHERE OFFICERS CAN'T CHASE DRIVERS OF STOLEN CARS.

DAVID DOAN>> THE SANTA MONICA POLICY, WHILE IT SAYS YOU DON'T CHASE PEOPLE FOR STOLEN CARS, IT DOES SAY YOU CHASE PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. DRIVING UP ON THE SIDEWALK WHERE PEDESTRIANS ARE MEETS THAT DEFINITION IN SANTA MONICA'S POLICY.

GAY YEE>> BUT DOAN'S REASONING ESCAPES STEPHANY YABLOW. SHE THINKS OF YOUNG EVELYN VARGAS AND HER OWN PARENTS.

STEPHANY YABLOW>> THE ELDERLY COUPLE. IT FITS A NEBULOUS LITTLE TONGUE, BUT THEY'RE MY PARENTS. IT WAS JUST SO DEVASTATING TO THINK THAT MOM IS 76, DAD IS 79. THEY SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST AND HERE THEY ARE IN THEIR GOLDEN YEARS AND THEY WERE ROBBED OF THEIR GOLDEN YEARS BECAUSE OF THIS SENSELESS POLICE PURSUIT.

JESS>> ACCORDING TO THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE LAPD, PURSUIT-RELATED INJURIES ARE ON THE RISE. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE ANNUAL TOLL OF INNOCENT VICTIMS HAS DOUBLED FROM 34 TO 70.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, PICTURES DON'T LIE, BUT DOES THE VIDEOTAPE OF THE RECENT POLICE BEATING IN INGLEWOOD TELL THE WHOLE STORY?

>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE VIDEOTAPE BEING TURNED OVER. IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED AND NOTHING THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THAT TAPE WAS TURNED ON IS GOING TO JUSTIFY THE CONDUCT THAT I OBSERVED AND THE WORLD HAS OBSERVED.

JESS>> WHEN RICK CARUSO TOOK THE JOB OF PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE COMMISSION, HE KNEW IT WOULD BE A BUMPY RIDE, BUT IT TURNED OUT, OF COURSE, HE WAS RIGHT.

VAL>> NOW CARUSO, A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER BY PROFESSION, IS HEADING UP THE SEARCH FOR A NEW L.A. POLICE CHIEF, BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE ISSUES ON HIS PLATE. ANOTHER BIG CONCERN ARE THOSE HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS THAT WE JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT. RICK CARUSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

RICK CARUSO>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> IS THE POLICE COMMISSION CONSIDERING REVISING THE HIGH-SPEED CHASE PHILOSOPHY OF THE L.A. POLICE DEPARTMENT?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, WE'RE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT IT. AFTER THE INCIDENT, PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN WHERE THE YOUNG GIRL WAS KILLED, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE ASKED THE DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK TO US WITH A REPORT WITH DIFFERENT OPTIONS. THEY DID. WE'VE ASKED THEM TO GO BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION AND MORE ALTERNATIVES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO STUDY IN THE COMING MONTHS.

JESS>> THE OFFICERS CAN'T BE THRILLED WITH THAT JOB EITHER, CAN THEY?

RICK CARUSO>> IT'S A NO-WIN FOR EVERYBODY AND THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS YOU GET INTO. YOU DON'T WANT TO SET DOWN A RULE THAT NECESSARILY ALLOWS SOMEBODY TO COMMIT A CRIME AND THEN GET AWAY. YOU ALSO DON'T WANT TO HAVE A RULE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED, CERTAINLY IN A WORSE CASE SCENARIO.

BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO ADD TO THAT, I FIRMLY BELIEVE, STRONGER PENALTIES FOR EVADING POLICE. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE REALLY NOT A LOT OF PENALTIES. IN MANY CASES, IT'S A MISDEMEANOR. I THINK IF THERE'S MANDATORY JAIL TIME ON EVADING POLICE, YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE A LOT LESS CHASES GOING ON.

VAL>> BUT LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE POLICY IS NOW. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE LAPD CAN BASICALLY INITIATE A CHASE AT THEIR DISCRETION FOR WHATEVER THE VIOLATION AND THEN THEY HAVE TO SIZE UP THE CRITERIA. ARE THEY DRIVING THROUGH A CROWDED PEDESTRIAN AREA AND OTHER CRITERIA THAT THEY USE TO CONTINUE OR STOP THE CHASE, RIGHT?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, THE OFFICER THAT'S IN THAT VEHICLE THAT'S DRIVING MAKES THAT DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO INITIATE THE PURSUIT.

VAL>> HE CAN BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHASE AND HAVE TO BE SIZING UP ALL THIS INFORMATION?

RICK CARUSO>> HE PROBABLY SIZES IT UP BEFORE HE INITIATES THE PURSUIT.

JESS>> HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE POSITION OF THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT HAS TO BE FELONY-RELATED?

VAL>> FELONS-ONLY RULE.

RICK CARUSO>> RIGHT. A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CASE IS. YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, AS THE OFFICERS DID DOWNTOWN IN THIS ONE WHERE IT ENDED TRAGICALLY, THE CAR WENT UP ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE SIDEWALK. NOW I THINK THE OFFICERS WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUALLY CRITICIZED HAD THEY NOT TURNED ON THEIR LIGHTS AND SIRENS AND TRIED TO WARN PEOPLE ALSO THAT THERE WAS A CRAZY GUY DRIVING DOWN THE SIDEWALK.

VAL>> BUT AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE EXISTING POLICY, WHAT ARE THEY? ARE THEY JUST PUTTING VARIOUS KINDS OF RESTRICTIONS LIKE THE FELONS-ONLY RULE? SANTA MONICA HAS A DIFFERENT POLICY THAN LAPD. WHAT'S THEIR POLICY?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, SANTA MONICA'S IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. I MEAN, ONE, IT SAYS IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE A CHASE UNLESS THERE IS A BURGLARY FROM A HOME. I THINK THERE'S MORE OF A VERIFICATION MAYBE THAT THERE IS A FELONY. THEY'RE NOT CHASING CARS IF IT'S A STOLEN CAR.

VAL>> SO A STOLEN CAR WOULD NOT BE JUSTIFICATION --

RICK CARUSO>> -- I BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE IN SANTA MONICA. I MEAN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN SANTA MONICA, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE. I THINK PROBABLY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY AS A WHOLE, FIRST OF ALL IT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED. SECOND OF ALL, MY GUT TELLS ME THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO NARROW IT DOWN AND ONLY IN THE GRAVEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES DO WE WANT TO INITIATE A PURSUIT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PURSUIT FOR A STOLEN CAR. BUT EVEN IN A GRAVE SITUATION, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE THE DISCRETION WITH THE OFFICER TO PULL BACK IF THERE'S A CROWDED SITUATION, IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF CHANCE OF HARM TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SO THERE ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE A LEVEL OF DISCRETION IN THERE. THE QUESTION IS, WHEN DO YOU ALLOW IT TO BE INITIATED?

JESS>> THEY NOT ONLY HAVE THE DISCRETION, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE IMMUNITY?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, THAT'S A STATE LAW. THERE IS STATE LAW IMMUNITY, AND I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

VAL>> LET'S CLARIFY THAT. THAT'S A STATE LAW THAT WAS PASSED, I BELIEVE IN 1998 OR 1988 --

RICK CARUSO>> -- I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE.

VAL>> -- WHICH GIVES IMMUNITY TO ANY OFFICER, IMMUNITY FROM A LAWSUIT, IN CONNECTION WITH A COLLISION THAT OCCURRED DURING A HOT PURSUIT. SO THE OFFICER WHO HAS TO DECIDE THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY EVER ABOUT BEING SUED?

RICK CARUSO>> YEAH, BUT I DON'T THINK OFFICERS AT ANY TIME ARE INITIATING A PURSUIT FOR THE FUN OF INITIATING PURSUIT. THEY'RE TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE IN THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY'RE EAGERLY LOOKING TO DO, AND I THINK THE OFFICERS NEED TO HAVE IMMUNITY.

JESS>> WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE OFFICERS MAY HAVE IMMUNITY, BUT THE CITY DOES NOT.

RICK CARUSO>> THAT MAY BE THE CASE. THAT'S TRUE. THE CITY DOES GET SUED IN THESE CASES.

VAL>> YOU KNOW, STILL, YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THEY'RE PRETTY COMPELLING. YOU HAVE THE LAPD, THE NUMBER OF CHASES -- NOT TALKING INJURIES, JUST BASIC NUMBERS OF CHASES -- HAS GONE UP ALMOST THIRTY PERCENT JUST FROM 2000 TO 2001. AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT GOT ME. THERE IS A ONE IN ELEVEN, ONE OUT OF ELEVEN TIMES DOES SOMEONE, AN INNOCENT PERSON, ENDS UP INJURED FROM THOSE CASES. ONE IN ELEVEN IS PRETTY HIGH.

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, ONE IN ELEVEN IS HIGH. LISTEN, I THINK ONE IS HIGH. YOU KNOW, ONE PERCENT IS HIGH. WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY OUT THERE INJURED. BUT AGAIN, YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE INJURIES ARE. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR CLASSIFICATION OF INJURIES ARE. I DON'T KNOW THAT STATISTIC, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS THEY GOT A BRUISE OR IF THEY GOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. BUT THE GOAL HAS TO BE THAT NOBODY GETS INJURED AND THE GOAL HAS TO BE THAT YOU TRY TO APPREHEND THE CRIMINAL. YOU BACK OFF APPREHENDING THE CRIMINAL IF THERE'S RISK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HEAD WITH THIS.

JESS>> IN YOUR JOB AS PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE COMMISSION, YOU HAVE A FAIRLY FULL PLATE, BUT ONE OF THE ITEMS OF CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IS THE NAMING OF A NEW POLICE CHIEF. HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW THOSE WHO HAVE APPLIED THUS FAR?

RICK CARUSO>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T. THE INTERVIEWS ARE MOST LIKELY TAKING PLACE THE THIRD OR FOURTH WEEK OF AUGUST. THE APPLICATION PERIOD DOESN'T CLOSE UNTIL JULY 19, SO NOT EVERYBODY THAT PROBABLY WILL APPLY HAS APPLIED.

JESS>> WE'RE TOLD YOU CAN EXPECT PERHAPS A HUNDRED APPLICANTS?

RICK CARUSO>> THERE MAY BE. I DON'T KNOW. I HAVE A MEETING NEXT TUESDAY AND I'M GOING TO GET AN UP-TO-DATE REPORT ON WHO'S APPLIED AND HOW MANY. THERE MAY BE. I THINK THE REALITY IS WE'LL END UP NOT INTERVIEWING A HUNDRED PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY.

JESS>> YOU WHITTLE IT DOWN TO, WHAT, THREE POSSIBLES AND SUBMIT THAT TO THE MAYOR WHO HAS THE ULTIMATE VOTE?

RICK CARUSO>> CORRECT. WE COME DOWN TO THREE AND WE RANK THOSE THREE AND THEN WE PRESENT THAT TO THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR MAKES THE ULTIMATE SELECTION, AND THEN IT'S CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

VAL>> WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT FOR THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF?

RICK CARUSO>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A TOUGH --

VAL>> -- I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY, BUT --

RICK CARUSO>> -- YEAH, THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION. I THINK THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT, WHICH HAS ABOUT A HUNDRED DIFFERENT LAYERS TO IT, IS LEADERSHIP. I MEAN, IT'S ALL ABOUT -- IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN SELECTING ANY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ANY ORGANIZATION. LAPD IS A HUGE ORGANIZATION, WITH A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, WITH THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT UNDERSTANDS LEADERSHIP, UNDERSTANDS GOOD MANAGEMENT, CAN MOTIVATE PEOPLE, IS OPEN, IS WILLING TO REVIEW MAYBE PRACTICES THAT NEED TO BE REVIEWED, DOES NOT NECESSARILY RELY ON THE OLD WAYS OF BEING DONE, AND I THINK IS COMMITTED TO REFORM AND HAS TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY. I MEAN, HE OR SHE HAS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB. THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE CITY.

VAL>> HE OR SHE.

RICK CARUSO>> YES.

VAL>> RICK CARUSO, PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE COMMISSION, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

RICK CARUSO>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

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JESS>> IT'S CALLED CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND, WHEN THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT CORPORATE SCANDALS ARE CAUGHT, PATT MORRISON WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME. HERE'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> BILLIONS OF PAPER DOLLARS DISAPPEAR FROM THE PAPER SOUFFLÉ ECONOMY AND NOW WE HEAR THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO GET TOUGH. IT'S GOING TO MAKE THOSE CEO'S STAND IN A CORNER. THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY BECAME ALMOST INSTANTLY THE STUFF OF STANDUP COMEDY SHOWS HOW SKEPTICAL THE PUBLIC IS THAT ANYTHING WILL COME OF REFORMS TO KEEP THESE CEO'S FROM MAKING BILLIONAIRES OF THEMSELVES BY MAKING PAUPERS OF THEIR SHAREHOLDERS AND EMPLOYEES.

IN THE EVENT ANYONE HIT THE MUTE BUTTON DURING THE SPEECH, THE SCREEN BEHIND BUSH BORE THE WORDS "CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY" ABOUT A HUNDRED TIMES OVER AS IF SOME NAUGHTY CEO HAD BEEN FORCED TO WRITE THEM ON THE BOARD, WHICH IS MORE PUNISHMENT THAN MOST VIOLATORS OF CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SEEM TO GET.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT A NEW SWAT TEAM WILL HIT THE STREETS TAKING SERIOUS ACTION AGAINST CORPORATE CRIMINALS, PERHAPS KICKING DOWN THE DOORS OF BOARDROOMS AND SHOUTING, "THROW DOWN YOUR BALANCE SHEETS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM OR WE'LL SHOOT YOUR TURNBULL AND ASSER SHIRTS TO SHREDS!"

LOOK, DOUBLING SENTENCES FOR FRAUD FROM FIVE YEARS TO TEN, AS THE PRESIDENT PROPOSED, WILL NOT ACHIEVE MUCH. OFFENDERS ARE RARELY CAUGHT, RARELY CHARGED, RARELY CONVICTED, AND EVEN IF THEY ARE, I HEAR THEY JUST RESURFACED THE TENNIS COURT AT THE PRISON IN ALLENWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA WHOSE INMATES CALL IT "CLUB FED". A STUDY AT UC IRVINE FOUND THAT THE SAVINGS AND LOAN SWINDLERS, IF THEY SERVED ANY SENTENCES AT ALL, SERVED LESS PRISON TIME FOR DEVASTATING THOUSANDS OF INVESTORS' LIVES THAN THE AVERAGE CAR THIEF DID FOR PINCHING A SECOND-HAND TOYOTA.

NO, SOME REAL PUNISHMENT IS IN ORDER HERE, SOMETHING MORE DIRECT, MORE INVENTIVE, MORE GRATIFYING TO THE WRONGED PARTIES. FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY TIME THE STOCK VALUE FALLS, BUT THE CEO GETS A RAISE ANYWAY, THE CEO HAS TO TAKE HIS SEAT ON A DUNKING STOOL LIKE THOSE AT COUNTRY FAIRS AND SHAREHOLDERS GET TO DRAW LOTS AND THROW BASEBALLS AND SEND THE BOSS TUMBLING INTO A VAT OF, OH, USED MOTOR OIL AND STALE BEER. AND FOR MORE SERIOUS TRANSGRESSIONS, THERE'S THE EXAMPLE OF THE OLD GERMAN HIGH COMMAND. YOU SHUT THE MAN IN A ROOM WITH A LOADED REVOLVER AND TRUST THAT HE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. IN AMERICA, HOWEVER, THE RIGHT THING MEANS SHOOTING YOUR WAY OUT AND CALLING A PRESS CONFERENCE.

VAL>> TAKE ONE PART ZEN MEDITATION AND ONE PART SOUND. MIX IT WITH EQUAL AMOUNTS OF RHYTHM AND INSPIRATION AND YOU GET AN ANCIENT TRADITION KNOWN AS TAIKO.

JESS>> THE JAPANESE DRUMS ARE A FAMILIAR SIGHT AT FESTIVALS AND HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES. TONIGHT GAY YEE INTRODUCES US TO A NEW GENERATION OF TAIKO DRUMMERS WHO ARE PERFECTING THEIR ART IN THE HEART OF LOS ANGELES.

GAY YEE>> IT WAS ONCE USED ON THE BATTLEFIELD TO SCARE THE ENEMY OR SIGNAL THE TROOPS, TO CONDUCT RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND DISPEL EVIL SPIRITS, FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN VILLAGES OR TO CELEBRATE THE HARVEST. NOW TAIKO DRUMMING IS CONSIDERED A PERFORMING ART, POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD. IN FACT, THE TRADITIONAL TAIKO IS FAR MORE POPULAR NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

IN THE HEART OF LITTLE TOKYO AT ZENSHUJI TEMPLE, A GROUP OF YOUTHS SPEND THEIR FRIDAY EVENINGS REHEARSING FOR UPCOMING PERFORMANCES. VIVIAN SEKI IS THE GROUP'S INSTRUCTOR.

VIVIAN SEKI>> ... BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO MAKE THIS A PART OF THE MOVEMENT. OKAY, IT'S HERE AND ...

GAY YEE>> THE GROUP, ZENSHUJI ZENDEKO, WAS FORMED IN 1986. THEY WERE INITIALLY TRAINED BY AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TAIKO GROUP FROM JAPAN.

VIVIAN SEKI>> THE GROUP, ONDEKOSA, A FAMOUS JAPANESE TAIKO GROUP FROM JAPAN, CAME TO LOS ANGELES TO TOUR. THEY TRAINED WITH US FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR. WE WENT THROUGH SOME RIGOROUS TRAINING AND WE DECIDED TO FORM A PERFORMING ARTS GROUP. FROM THAT TIME FORWARD, WE HAVE JUST TRAINED NEW GENERATIONS OF KIDS COMING IN.

YOU GUYS ARE SMALL, BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE IMAGE THAT YOU'RE BIG, OKAY?....

GAY YEE>> ZENDEKO HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE PREMIER PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES. MEMBERS ENDURE STRICT PRACTICES AND ALL OF THE STUDENTS LEARN TO PLAY A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS.

VIVIAN SEKI>> STUDENTS IN OUR GROUP LEARN ALL THE DIFFERENT DRUMS. WE HAVE SMALL DRUMS WHICH ARE SHIME, WE HAVE MEDIUM DRUMS WHICH ARE CALLED CHU DAIKO, AND WE HAVE THE LARGE DRUMS WHICH ARE CALLED O-DAIKO. WE ALSO HAVE WIND INSTRUMENTS. WE HAVE A SHAKUHACHI, WHICH IS A LONG WIND INSTRUMENT, AND WE HAVE A SHINOBUE WHICH IS A FLUTE, A BAMBOO FLUTE.

GAY YEE>> ZEN MEDITATION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRAINING. THAT'S WHERE THE STUDENTS LEARN FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION.

VIVIAN SEKI>> WE INCORPORATE THAT INTO OUR DRUMMING BY HAVING THE INDIVIDUAL CONCENTRATE ON THEIR BREATHING, BREATHING AND ALSO THE RHYTHM, NOTHING ELSE.

STUDENT>> THEY TELL YOU TO FOCUS BEYOND THE WALL.

GAY YEE>> THROUGH MOST OF HISTORY, ONLY MEN PLAYED TAIKO. EVEN AS LATE AS THE 1950'S, WOMEN WERE NOT ALLOWED TO HIT THE DRUM, NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO WATCH MEN PRACTICE, BUT THAT'S CHANGED. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT'S BECAUSE OF TAIKO'S POPULARITY AMONG JAPANESE-AMERICANS.

VIVIAN SEKI>> IN JAPAN, THESE TYPES OF TRADITIONAL ARTS WERE ACTUALLY DIMINISHING. THE YOUNG PEOPLE DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO EXPLORE THE OLD TRADITIONS OF JAPAN. THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN TAIKO GROUPS ACTUALLY PLAY A ROLE IN BRINGING BACK THE TRADITIONAL ARTS TO JAPAN.

GAY YEE>> THERE ARE ABOUT 150 TAIKO GROUPS IN NORTH AMERICA. MOST GROUPS DON'T RECEIVE ANY FUNDING. TO SAVE MONEY, THEY MAKE THEIR OWN DRUMS, USING WINE BARRELS. THIS COST-SAVING DESIGN HAS HELPED INSPIRE THE GROWTH OF TAIKO IN THIS COUNTRY. HOWEVER, ZENSHUJI ZENDEKO HAS BEEN FORTUNATE. THROUGH DONATIONS AND MONEY THEY EARNED FROM PERFORMANCES, THEY NOW BOAST OF OWNING THE TRADITIONAL TYPE OF DRUM MADE FROM ONE PIECE OF WOOD.

VIVIAN SEKI>> OUR INSTRUMENTS ARE MADE OUT OF A JAPANESE OAK AND IT'S MADE OUT OF THE ENTIRE TRUNK OF A TREE, WHICH IS PREPARED BY CUTTING DOWN THE TREE. THEY HOLLOW OUT THE INSIDE OF THE TREE AND THEY ATTACH THE SKIN, WHICH IS COW SKIN.

GAY YEE>> ZENDEKO HAS PERFORMED BEFORE SOME IMPRESSIVE AUDIENCES, INCLUDING THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF JAPAN, POPE JOHN PAUL II, NELSON MANDELA AND FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH. THEY ALSO PERFORM SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR HERE IN LOS ANGELES AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND FESTIVALS.

STUDENT>> AT PERFORMANCES WE HAVE DONE, IT'S REALLY GREAT SEEING PEOPLES' FACES WHEN THEY JUST ENJOY IT. IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

STUDENT>> THEY SEE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SIDE OF ME. WHEN THEY SEE ME DO THIS TAIKO, THEY'RE LIKE, "WOW, YOU HAVE STRENGTH AND YOU HAVE POWER."

GAY YEE>> ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS STUDENTS JOIN ZENSHUJI ZENDEKO IS TO BRING THEM CLOSER TO THEIR OWN JAPANESE HERITAGE.

STUDENT>> I'VE LEARNED MORE ABOUT MY CULTURE, NOT JUST ABOUT THE DRUMMING. WE GO AND PERFORM AT DIFFERENT EVENTS. IT KIND OF BRINGS US CLOSER TO THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY.

STUDENT>> I LEARN A LOT OF JAPANESE TRADITIONS.

STUDENT>> IT TEACHES ME A LOT ABOUT MY CULTURE. I HAVE SO MUCH FUN.

GAY YEE>> FROM THE YOUNGEST TAIKO DRUMMER TO THE OLDEST, EACH WILL CONTINUE THEIR JAPANESE TRADITION AND SHARE THEIR CULTURE, THEIR MUSIC AND THEIR ART WITH THE WORLD.

VIVIAN SEKI>> IN THIS DAY AND AGE, CULTURE IS THE WAY OF EXTENDING YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE. I BELIEVE TAIKO REALLY DOES THAT. IT REALLY TOUCHES PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT MOST OTHER THINGS HAVE A HARD TIME DOING. ALL OF THOSE THINGS MEAN SO MUCH TO ME AND TAIKO HAS GIVEN ME ALL OF THAT.

JESS>> THESE PERFORMERS WILL BE IN ACTION THIS WEEKEND AT THE ANNUAL OBON FESTIVAL. IT TAKES PLACES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE ZENSHUJI TEMPLE IN LITTLE TOKYO. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ZENSHUJI.COM OR CALL THE NUMBER CURRENTLY ON YOUR SCREEN.

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