S.F. cops steamed at D.A. again

SAN FRANCISCO, July 12 (UPI) -- San Francisco's district attorney was reportedly at odds with police Monday for her refusal to prosecute suspects arrested in a vice operation.

The San Francisco Chronicle quoted the head of the San Francisco Police Department's vice squad as saying District Attorney Kamala Harris' refusal to prosecute nine suspects amounted to "almost legalizing prostitution."

The dispute comes after Harris refused earlier this year to seek the death penalty for the alleged killer of a SFPD officer.

The Chronicle said the current beef erupted after Harris' office delayed a police crackdown on hookers working in strip clubs so the D.A's lawyers could iron out potential problems with accusations of abuse or selective enforcement by the officers.

The police, however, became impatient and went ahead with the raids a few weeks ago. Harris' office threw out the resulting cases, saying the police should be arresting street criminals and were out to embarrass Harris.