Pubdate: Fri, 29 Sep 2000
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2000 San Francisco Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Forum: http://www.sfgate.com/conferences/
Authors: Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross, BROWN LASHES OUT AT HALLINAN ON DRUG ENFORCEMENT

BAY AREA -- Mayor Willie Brown convened a law enforcement summit in his 
office yesterday -- then opened the doors and invited in KRON TV reporter 
Vic Lee and his camera crew -- for what unmistakably was a very public 
horsewhipping of District Attorney Terence Hallinan.

Prompting the summit was a recent three-part TV series Lee did outlining 
Hallinan's lack of prosecution in drug cases.

The mayor said he was frankly expecting a hit piece by Lee, but after 
checking the series out for himself concluded it was on the mark.

Then Brown went around his office, asking what his law bosses were going to 
do to fix the problem.

The police chief was there. So was the public defender. But notably absent 
was D.A. Hallinan, who has long advocated diversion programs rather than 
jail time for drug offenders.

That left Hallinan's new top deputy, Paul Cummins, and D.A. spokesman Fred 
Gardner to defend their boss.

And from what we hear, about the best Cummins and Gardner could up with was 
- -- it's an international problem.

Make no mistake: this hour and 45-minute gathering was a made-for-TV 
statement by Brown that he's not happy with the job Hallinan is doing.

And you can bet more sparks will follow.

[snip]

Chronicle columnists Matier and Ross can be heard on KGO Radio on Mondays, 
Wednesdays and Thursdays. Phil Matier can also be seen regularly on 
KRON-TV. Got a tip? Call them at (415) 777-8815. Their e-mail address is  ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D