Former LAPD Chief Being Treated for Cancer in Local Hospital

He's in the very best of hands if he's at Mission Hospital:

Former LAPD Chief Daryl Gates is in the hospital, suffering from bladder cancer that's now quickly spreading.

Gates is being treated at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, which is in close proximity to his San Clemente home.

He was admitted to the hospital three weeks ago when he felt horrible pain in his hip. Gates has been battling bladder cancer, but the cancer has spread to his bones recently, attacking the area near his hip.

Earlier Tuesday, current L.A. police Chief Charlie Beck described Gates, 83, as having a "very serious malady," when speaking of the former chief's condition to the city Police Commission. Beck, who visited Gates in the hospital over the weekend, also asked the public to keep him in their prayers.

Law enforcement officials have been stopping by the hospital Tuesday to pay Gates a visit.

"He sends his regards, and the outpouring of everyone has just been overwhelming, and he absolutely wants to make sure that everyone knows how much he appreciates that," said retired LAPD Assistant Chief Michael Hillmann. "He's a tough guy, and he's somebody that's going to endure. His health right now is in god's hands."

I always like Chief Gates. He was a no nonsense cop who wanted his force to be as tough as possible on the bad guys. He earned the ire of a lot of civil libertarians who were afraid some gang member would get his feelings hurt, but Gates never cared much about that.

There were some abuses under his leadership, that's for sure, but you can't look at the gang infested areas of the city today and tell me they're better now than they were when Gates' guys were cracking a few heads.