"Ridge says Los Angeles police chief, sheriff could be candidates to replace him"

Well, theoretically speaking, most anyone could be a candidate. However:

The police chief and sheriff of Los Angeles could be candidates to become the next secretary of homeland security, outgoing secretary Tom Ridge says -- but both men say they're not interested in the job.

Ridge praised Police Chief William Bratton and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, saying they understand how to protect large cities from terrorism.

"These two are doing this for their entire careers, so it's no surprise that their names are being publicly mentioned and maybe even privately discussed," Ridge said Wednesday at a news conference to announce $282 million in homeland-security money for California.

Ridge declined to comment on whether the White House has seriously considered either man...

Yes, but there's the possibility they were being privately discussed.

On the other hand:

Because of the tenacious efforts of grass roots activist Hal Netkin , Los Angeles Police Department Chief William "Bill" Bratton took the coward's way out by failing to show up at a May 8 tribute in Santa Clarita, CA. to honor murdered police officer Deputy David March...

Bratton... was on the confirmed speakers list. But once the chief learned that Netkin would be passing out flyers reminding the attendees of Bratton's continuing support of Special Order 40... poof!

Netkin told me that he distributed 1,500 flyers. "Everyone in the stadium received one, even the deputies. And they seemed very resentful of Bratton and his policies," Netkin said.

Special Order 40, which prohibits police officers from questioning Los Angeles residents about their immigration status until they are charged with a criminal offense, was established in 1979 under order of the City Council and then-police chief Darryl Gates...

Politics · Fri, 12/17/2004 - 11:45 · · Importance: 1