1.   Atlanta Police Chief Beverly Harvard defended her department.

2.   But Ashcroft defended his department, noting that tighter security and public alerts may have prevented other terrorist attacks.

3.   But Chronister also defended her department.

4.   But there is no shortage of others who will defend the department.

5.   Chief Harvard defended her department Thursday, saying that investigators tried to contact the lawyer for the witnesses by telephone and left a message that was not returned.

6.   Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, defending his department before a House committee last month, said the government was making up for deficiencies in American corporations.

7.   Dear defended his department before a House Appropriations subcommittee, saying budget cuts lead to more workplace accidents.

8.   He was too slow in defending the department against defense attacks in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, critics charged.

9.   However, Carberry defended the department.

10.   In other developments,Police Chief Willie L. Williams defended his department Wednesday against continuing criticism that officers waited too long to call the coroner in the deaths.