EDITORIAL : GIVE HIM A SHOT; WE'RE STUCK WITH HIM, SO LET'S GIVE SHERIFF-ELECT LEE BACA HONEYMOON PERIOD.

FOR reasons unknown, Sheriff-elect Lee Baca's critics are on a manhunt. The 26-year department veteran hasn't even been sworn in to protect the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and he already has a target on his back.

The first volley, suddenly holding him accountable for longstanding problems of ingrained racism, sexism and brutality at two south Los Angeles County substations under his command when he was a sheriff's chief, is nothing but an attempt to undermine Baca even before he has a chance.

The information about the systemic problems at the Century and Lennox substations was highlighted in a report by Merrick Bobb, who oversees the department's reform programs, to the Board of Supervisors in June, days after the primary in which Baca forced the late Sherman Block into a runoff for sheriff.

The Bobb report, one of two issued every year, was fair game during the often nasty campaign but puzzlingly was left unraised by the four-term sheriff. Had Block deemed Baca unworthy of the job, instead of playing meek opponent, he should have hammered away at Baca and his managerial style throughout the campaign.

To criticize Baca for failing to effect change at the Lennox and Century substations while he was a - not the - top commander in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a cheap shot.

The substations have a long history of problems, including a racist culture that existed well before Baca was named to oversee them and five others in January 1994. He claims he tried to make changes, only to be snubbed by his superiors, who included Block and those in charge at the stations.

Deputies at Century and Lennox patrol some of the neighborhoods with the highest murder, violent crime and aggravated assault rates in the county, yet many rookies get their feet wet there. On top of that, the ratio of supervisors to patrol deputies is among the lowest in the Sheriff's Department.

Without proper training, it's no wonder why those deputies may want to shoot or abuse first and ask questions later. That is no excuse, but merely a fact that contributes to large numbers of complaints and lawsuits against those deputies.

Clearly, Baca had some responsibility for the problems, as do many other command officers. But in reality, he did not have carte blanche to make wholesale changes because Block and others above him had to sign off on the suggestions.

To prejudge Baca on his performance as a subordinate to a powerful and politically popular sheriff, when he has not yet taken command of the department, is wrong. The time for questioning his leadership ability was during the campaign. Now it's just sour grapes.

Face the facts: Baca won - even though it's likely what put him over the top was Block's death.

Now is the time for Baca to present an aggressive plan that will eliminate all the department's woes and rid it of its problematic deputies. A culture of brutes - in which racism, sexism and brutality is not discouraged - is dangerous. Inmates dying in jail cells or hogtied in the backs of patrol cars is deplorable.

Baca should be held up to what he wants do as the leader of the 12,000-plus-member department and whether he follows through on those ideas.

Give him a shot to lead. If he stumbles or fails, he'll read about his inadequacies on this page. And voters will get a chance to oust him in four years.