Command College

The futurist who goes by the name FM-2030 appears before California's emerging police leaders during the first week of Command College, offering a rap they'll never hear in the squad room. Wearing a silk shirt open to the waist, he declares that patriotism, family and religion are passe, soon to be replaced by "telecommunities," personal "linkups" and immortality. The author of "Are You a Transhuman?" is having his body frozen at death, of course.

Virginia has four players trying to make history. Indiana has one player trying to make it for his father. Then there are UCLA and Rutgers. They're just trying to make it to Sunday. Just what else the Bruins are trying to accomplish in soccer's final four is not readily apparent. Sure, UCLA wants to add another NCAA championship to the titles it won under Coach Sigi Schmid in 1985 and 1990. But where's the angle? Where's the hook? What would make people outside Westwood care whether they win?

Virginia has four players trying to make history. Indiana has one player trying to make it for his father. Then there are UCLA and Rutgers. They're just trying to make it to Sunday. Just what else the Bruins are trying to accomplish in soccer's final four is not readily apparent. Sure, UCLA wants to add another NCAA championship to the titles it won under Coach Sigi Schmid in 1985 and 1990. But where's the angle? Where's the hook? What would make people outside Westwood care whether they win?

The futurist who goes by the name FM-2030 appears before California's emerging police leaders during the first week of Command College, offering a rap they'll never hear in the squad room. Wearing a silk shirt open to the waist, he declares that patriotism, family and religion are passe, soon to be replaced by "telecommunities," personal "linkups" and immortality. The author of "Are You a Transhuman?" is having his body frozen at death, of course.

James Butts, who takes over next month as Santa Monica's police chief, will be honored today at a reception sponsored by the Santa Monica College Black Support Group. The reception, free and open to the public, will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the college cafeteria, 1900 Pico Blvd. Butts, 37, who will be the first black chief in the department's history, is deputy chief of police in Inglewood.

Ventura police officials promoted 20-year department veteran Lt. Michael J. Tracy to the position of assistant chief. Tracy replaces Randy Adams, who left the department in early September to become Simi Valley's chief of police. Tracy joined the Ventura Police Department in February, 1975, as a patrol officer and was promoted to sergeant in 1979. He became a lieutenant in 1987 and has served as commander in communications, patrol operations and, most recently, detective operations.

Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Joseph Davis has been named the city's head of police services. Davis will manage law enforcement services provided under the city's contract with the Sheriff's Department. He will be responsible for general law enforcement, traffic, crime investigations and parking enforcement. The Laguna Niguel Police Services Agency will be based at Laguna Niguel City Hall. Davis has lived in Laguna Niguel for the last 15 years and is a 16-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department.

By 1995 there will be no solution to the trend toward violent crime in the Southeast Asian communities "if the police cannot obtain the trust and assistance of the community in stopping crime," according to a study based on surveys of law enforcement officers. The 236-page study cost $20,000 and took Garden Grove Police Capt. Stanley L. Knee six months to complete. It was conducted under the auspices of the California Police Command College.

Acting police chief Capt. Philip A. Goehring Monday was named chief of the Police Department, city officials said. Goehring, 49, a 25-year veteran of the department, was selected from a pool of 20 applicants, city Personnel Director Mark Flannery said. Goehring, who was promoted to captain in 1980, has been the interim chief since December, when former Police Chief Martin Hairabedian was appointed to a North Orange County Municipal Court judgeship.

Mohamed Abdel Ghani al-Gamasy, 81, the general who served as chief of operations in Egypt's army during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, died Saturday in Cairo. He had been in declining health in the last few years, suffering several strokes and undergoing open heart surgery. Al-Gamasy was army chief of operations on Oct. 6, 1973, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack against Israeli forces that had occupied the Sinai Peninsula since 1967.

Simi Valley Police Chief Randy Adams has been appointed Glendale's police chief, Glendale city officials announced Wednesday. He will assume the new post Jan. 31. Adams, 51, replaces longtime Chief Russell Siverling, who retired this week. Capt. Ron DePompa is serving as interim chief. Meanwhile, Simi Valley Police Capt. Mark Layhew was named as Adams' successor.