Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

Listen
Donate
Podcasts Off-Ramp
Daryl Gates, Spymaster. Journalist David Cay Johnston now tells what the LA Times wouldn't.
Off-Ramp with John Rabe Hero Image
(
Dan Carino
)
Apr 24, 2010
Listen • 24:01
Daryl Gates, Spymaster. Journalist David Cay Johnston now tells what the LA Times wouldn't.
Friends and admirers of the late LAPD chief Daryl Gates may think I’m piling on by adding more negatives to the former chief’s history, but it’s not journalism’s job to be respectful. It’s our job to fill-in the picture when it matters. And what journalist David Cay Johnston has to say about Gates matters. Johnston -- no conspiracy blogger but a Pulitzer and Polk winner -- makes a convincing case that Gates ran a local and international spy organization that he used to prevent politicians and publishers from going after him or the department. COME INSIDE for a link to his article in LA Observed.
February 3, 1988: LAPD Chief Daryl Gates listening to LA City Council members discuss gang shooting in Westwood Village.
February 3, 1988: LAPD Chief Daryl Gates listening to LA City Council members discuss gang shooting in Westwood Village.
(
Mike Mullen/LAPL/Herald Examiner
)
Pulitzer and Polk winner David Cay Johnston wasn't afraid of LAPD chief Daryl Gates.
Pulitzer and Polk winner David Cay Johnston wasn't afraid of LAPD chief Daryl Gates.
(
Bonk Johnston
)

Friends and admirers of the late LAPD chief Daryl Gates may think I’m piling on by adding more negatives to the former chief’s history, but it’s not journalism’s job to be respectful. It’s our job to fill-in the picture when it matters. And what journalist David Cay Johnston has to say about Gates matters. Johnston -- no conspiracy blogger but a Pulitzer and Polk winner -- makes a convincing case that Gates ran a local and international spy organization that he used to prevent politicians and publishers from going after him or the department. COME INSIDE for a link to his article in LA Observed.

Friends and admirers of the late LAPD chief Daryl Gates may think I’m piling on by adding more negatives to the former chief’s history, but it’s not journalism’s job to be respectful. It’s our job to fill-in the picture when it matters. And what journalist David Cay Johnston has to say about Gates matters. Johnston -- no conspiracy blogger but a Pulitzer and Polk winner -- makes a convincing case that Gates ran a local and international spy organization that he used to prevent politicians and publishers from going after him or the department. COME INSIDE for a link to his article in LA Observed.

Read Johnston's special article on Gates for LA Observed.