The Radio and Television News Assn. has handed out its Golden Mike awards for broadcast excellence for 60 years now, bestowing the latest hefty golden trophies at a dinner ceremony Saturday evening in Universal City.

Among the winners: the LAPD's media relations department, which snagged a statuette in taking the RTNA's Freedom of Information award. True!

What a difference a decade or so makes, given the historical frictions and hostilities between press and police. Police Chief Charlie Beck was there, in a natty double-breasted suit instead of his uniform. He said rather drolly, in accepting the award on behalf of his people, that the honor shows that the department is ''probably a little different from my dad's LAPD.'' (Beck's father retired from the department in 1980.)

Something would be wrong if the press and the police got along swimmingly all the time, but I hope the Golden Mike award gets pride of place in the news media relations office, as a reminder of how it all can work.