Link: Security Beat Newsletter
The police chief and sheriff of Los Angeles have been suggested as candidates to become the next Homeland security Secretary, outgoing secretary Tom Ridge says. Both men, however, maintain they are not interested in the job. Ridge praised Police Chief William Bratton and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, saying they understand how to protect large cities from terrorism. "These two are doing this for their entire careers, so it's no surprise that their names are being publicly mentioned and maybe even privately discussed," Ridge said at a news conference to announce $282 million in homeland-security money for California. Bratton, a former New York City police commissioner, said in an interview on KNX-AM of Los Angeles that he doesn't want the job. "These stories take off like a missile, so I figure I'd shoot it down very quickly," he said. Speculation about Ridge's replacement has been intense since President Bush's first choice, Bernard Kerik, withdrew from consideration. Kerik, also a former New York City police commissioner, admitted briefly employing an illegal immigrant as a housekeeper and nanny. Ridge announced his resignation Nov. 30. He plans to remain in the job until Feb. 1, unless the Senate confirms his successor earlier.
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