Police Commission rejects L.A. Chief Parks' bid for 2nd term; City Council vote will decide

Jet, April 29, 2002

Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks has vowed to fight the controversial decision by the civilian Police Commission to deny him a second five-year term to head the nation's third-largest police force.

David Cunningham III, the lone Black member of the five-member Police Commission, cast the only vote to retain Parks.

The commission is appointed by the mayor and the vote was not unexpected because L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn voiced his dissatisfaction with Parks at a press conference last winter.

Hahn's remarks and the Police Commission vote were blasted by Black leaders who say the chief has done a commendable job of reforming the embattled department.

Commission president Rick Caruso told the media that Parks, a 37-year-veteran of the LAPD, had failed to provide leadership and was responsible for the decline in officer morale, the resignation of many officers and a rising crime rate. Parks is the second Black chief in succession for L.A. Willie Williams of Philadelphia was brought in following the 1992 riots but was criticized because of his outsider status. Parks replaced him in 1997.

The 15-member L.A. City Council can overturn the commission's decision with a two-thirds vote. However, only a handful of the council members, including its three Blacks, has come out in support of Parks.

"My record and my accomplishments offer a compelling support for my reappointment," Parks said at a news conference after the decision.

"Because of my commitment to this department and the communities of this city, I have decided not to abandon my request for reappointment. I still have a lot to offer."

The decision not to keep Parks for another five years has created a bitter wedge between Hahn and the Black community where he had enjoyed enormous support. Political observers credited the overwhelming Black support with helping ensure Hahn's victory. Many local Black activists and religious leaders say they will never again support Hahn.

There had been a call for Caruso to resign before the vote on Parks. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and a number of Black leaders confronted Caruso at a recent commission meeting.

The commission is made up of two White men, one Asian woman, one Hispanic woman and Cunningham.

Heightening the tension were TV ads blasting Parks' leadership, paid for by the Police Protective League. The union has never before attacked a police chief with such ads.

Waters told the L.A. Times: "I guess I knew that Bernard was going to be denied another five years, and I should not feel as disgusted as I feel. But I do feel rather disgusted that the Police Commission has basically honored the mayor's wishes and the mayor has paid off his political campaign debt to the Police Protective League."

Parks' first term is slated to end August 12.