EDITORIAL LAURA KNOWS BEST IF SHE SAYS LAFD NEEDS REFORM -- LISTEN.

WE believe Laura Chick.

The Los Angeles city controller so far has a pretty good track record when it comes to rooting out problems in the city bureaucracy.

Her office, for example, was the first to pipe up about overbilling by the public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard. That company has since repaid millions and some of its executives have been convicted of defrauding the city. Not bad.

So when Chick says that reform is needed at the Los Angeles Fire Department, as she did back in January, it probably does. Her report noted a broken disciplinary system and weak management.

The evidence backing Chick's conclusion continues to mount even as fire officials try to ignore it.

But these increasingly disturbing anecdotes of lax discipline among the ranks is opening the public's eyes to problems. Most recently, there is the case of an L.A. fire captain facing murder charges in the death of his girlfriend. He allegedly has a long history of abusing women that the department appears to have covered up.

Last month a female fire captain filed a claim alleging that the L.A. Fire Department permits gender discrimination, creates a hostile work environment and allows retaliation against firefighters who speak out.

This prelude to a lawsuit is one of many legal claims against the city alleging sexual harassment and assaults involving the LAFD.

The protestations of Fire Department Chief William Bamattre are sounding increasingly hollow in light of these incidents.

Fire officials can deny problems all they want. But we believe Laura, and hope that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles City Council are wise enough to do the same.