A Times Editorial Clearwater chief has earned his city's support St. Petersburg Times December 9, 1997 The Church of Scientology attack on Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein has left city residents with a clear choice. They can either accept the irresponsible claims of Scientology officials or believe a man who has served his city fairly and effectively for 17 years. Clearwater residents should voice strong support for Chief Klein. And City Manager Michael Roberto, Klein's boss, should be commended for leaving no doubt that he backs his chief of police. "I was very disappointed in the church's response," Roberto said. His disappointment is understandable. The actions by Scientology officials last week dragged the city back to a time when the church used confrontation and reckless allegation to silence those who disagreed with it. Whatever accommodation Scientologists had gained in the community, it has been damaged by their latest behavior. The string of events last week also raises troubling questions about Scientology's motives. About 30 anti-Scientology demonstrators planned to march in front of the former Fort Harrison Hotel on Friday and Saturday to mark the second anniversary of Lisa McPherson's death. McPherson was a Scientologist who died after 17 days of isolation in the Fort Harrison building. Scientology leaders tried to pressure the city into closing the sidewalk in front of their building to the demonstrators, warning that a church meeting and the opening of Winter Wonderland would expose thousands of visitors to potential violence. City officials refused to close the sidewalk but agreed to separate demonstrators from Scientologists with barricades. All Americans have the right to public protest as long as they don't violate the rights of others. When the protest began Friday, the Fort Harrison building was dark and Winter Wonderland unopened. Instead of the promised activities, Scientologists were organizing their own demonstration. More than 3,000 church members marched with candles and signs around the police building and Clearwater Times office. Scientologists have the right to march, as well, even when they chant hateful messages such as "Sid Klein, what's your crime?" But why were they so secretive about their plans? It is now clear that Scientology officials were disingenuous when they argued against the rights of 30 demonstrators at the same time they were planning a protest 100-times larger. Who could blame city officials if they now question those officials' sincerity? Most damaging to the relationship between city and church was a 9-page letter sent Friday to Klein by Scientology official Brian Anderson. In the vitriolic letter, Anderson made several vague accusations about Klein and his department, including the charge that police give Scientologists too many parking tickets. Anderson refers to the diminutive Klein as "Big Sid" and accuses the police chief of "bigotry." It appears to be more than coincidence that Anderson launched his attack only days before Klein's department will turn over its criminal investigation into McPherson's death to the state attorney. Klein had a duty to investigate the death of a woman who had been kept isolated inside the Scientology spiritual headquarters for 17 days and then delivered to a Pasco County emergency room where she was pronounced dead. Klein cannot let powerful Scientology officials or anyone else come between him and his responsibility to uphold the law. Anderson's personal attacks on Klein contained scant detail and no proof. There is plenty of proof that Anderson's "bigotry" label is not true. Klein's tenure as Clearwater police chief has been marked by fairness and balance. He has weeded out bad cops. In minority neighborhoods, Klein has listened to complaints against his department and acted to resolve problems. Klein personally led the politically unpopular effort to build a homeless shelter downtown. Soon after he took the job in January 1981 Klein said, "I told my officers they will treat Scientologists like anybody else." The Church of Scientology has not offered any credible evidence that Klein has broken his word.