Pubdate: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2000 Los Angeles Times Contact: Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 Fax: (213) 237-4712 Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Forum: http://www.latimes.com/home/discuss/ Author: MIGUEL ROSALES Note: Title by newshawk RAMPART SCANDAL CURE For years the public and law enforcement have argued that stiff penalties for criminals lower the crime rate. To prevent further police scandals in the future, why don't we impose stiff penalties for police who commit perjury, say, 25 years to life for each offense. We can set high bail on each one since the penalties are likewise high, ensuring that only a very few can fight their cases out of custody, just like common citizens accused of serious offenses. Certainly jailing an innocent person on perjured testimony is a very serious offense, or at least it should be. After all, everyone wants to "get tough on crime." Or does getting tough only apply to the citizenry, who don't have a strong union? MIGUEL ROSALES, Cerritos - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck