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Williams claimed to the press that no investigation of incidents mentioned in the tapes would be launched until the department gets its own copy to listen to. But sources say that L.A.P.D. investigators, armed only with unconfirmed information about the actual names, are already going through old records to review files about several cases.
Among the L.A.P.D. rank and file, disillusionment is running high. "It's hard for the police officers, and it's hard for their families, because this is not how we do business," says Sergeant Mike Albanese, who has worked for the L.A.P.D. for 24 years. "Is what is happening now germane to the death of these two people? The defense has done a splendid job of disguising the truth. I think a lot of folks here are just weary. They're frustrated that the truth has taken a backseat in this case."
This weariness was probably expressed most eloquently by the family of murder victim Ron Goldman last week. Ron's father Fred and sister Kim begged the lawyers to remember what the case is really about-the brutal murders of two young people. Blasting the defense lawyers for playing "the race card," a tearful and enraged Fred Goldman said, "This is not the Fuhrman trial." In the end, however, the jurors may decide otherwise.
--Reported by Elaine Lafferty and James Willwerth/Los Angeles and Lisa H. Towle/Raleigh