Parks Unveils Sweeping Reorganization of LAPD

In a top-to-bottom reorganization, Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks announced Thursday that he has shuffled dozens of jobs to centralize his authority and move closer to the officers in the street.

Taking a page from corporate America, Parks plans to “flatten” the LAPD management structure to increase accountability, cut bureaucracy and improve crime-fighting and community policing efforts.

“Putting the right people in the right place is the most important thing a chief executive can do,” Parks said in a prepared statement.

As in private-sector restructurings, Parks is attempting to empower officers and managers in the field by giving them leeway to make their own decisions on police matters, rewarding those who perform well and demanding more of those who do not.

The new chief’s key moves include:

* Eliminating the LAPD’s three vacant assistant chief posts.

* Establishing an internal LAPD ombudsman position, responsible for mediating conflicts among employees before they become serious problems requiring formal investigations. Cmdr. Art Lopez, one of six semifinalists for the chief’s job, will take this post.

* Creating the position of department commander, responsible for running the department during the evenings and when the chief is off duty.

* Establishing a new position of special assistant to the chief of police. Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker, who was a finalist for the chief’s job, will fill the post and be responsible for coordinating the reorganization and the LAPD’s Command Accountability Strategies program, which is modeled after a highly touted crime-fighting effort used in New York City.

Parks’ reorganization essentially puts him only one step removed from most levels of the department’s operations--from day-to-day patrol operations to long-range strategic planning.

“Those things that are critical run right to the office of the chief of police,” said one high-ranking official.

Parks said there is no No. 2 position in his command structure and emphasized that all eight deputy chiefs are of “equal importance.” Sources, however, say that Parks is considering a financial hierarchy among the deputy chiefs, paying some more than others.

Additionally, several department insiders quickly made clear that they do not view all positions as equal, saying it is apparent that the chief of staff post, which will be filled by Deputy Chief David Gascon, wields the most power next to Parks.

Under the reorganization, Gascon will supervise the ombudsman, internal affairs, administrative planning and governmental relations issues between the department and all other levels of government, from the mayor’s office to the City Council.

Although Kroeker has the high-profile assignment of coordinating the command strategies program, the officers in charge of implementing the program report directly to Parks. In fact, no one reports directly to Kroeker.

When asked about the lack of supervision in his new job, Kroeker said he was “very disappointed.”

“I’m without a command,” Kroeker said. “I’ve never been without a command. I’m in charge of issues.”

He publicly praised Parks’ reorganization plan as a “good design” and “forward moving” structure, but also talked about exploring his professional options.

Others seemed pleased with their new assignments.

Deputy Chief Frank Piersol, who was recently demoted after serving as an assistant chief under former Chief Willie L. Williams, said he was “absolutely elated” over his assignment to head West Bureau. “I couldn’t be happier,” he said.

Parks, at an afternoon news conference, said the changes will reduce the LAPD’s internal bureaucracy while improving service to Angelenos, particularly in the area of community policing.

Over the past several days, Parks has held one-on-one meetings with most of his command staff, explaining his vision and seeking their views. But he did not tell them their new assignments until Thursday afternoon.

“I had no clue until today,” Cmdr. Bruce Hagerty said to a fellow officer at the news conference, where it was announced he would become department commander.

This is the second major LAPD restructuring of the top command staff in four months. Former interim chief Bayan Lewis reorganized the department brass immediately after he took office in May. Most of his reorganization was wiped out by Parks’ plan.

Under Parks’ reorganization, which will take effect Aug. 31, seven of the LAPD’s eight deputy chiefs and most of the 19 commanders will be transferred to new assignments. No officials will lose their jobs because of the restructuring. Parks said there would be a “second phase” of the restructuring in the near future that will bring him even closer to field operations.

Among the other new assignments:

* Capt. Margaret York was promoted to commander, making her the second woman in the department’s history to reach that rank. She will serve in South Bureau under acting Deputy Chief Julius Davis, who Parks said will become a permanent deputy chief. Also promoted was Capt. David Doan, to the rank of commander.

* Deputy Chief Robert Gil will head the Human Resources Bureau, overseeing personnel matters.

* Deputy Chief Martin Pomeroy, who has the Valley Bureau, will run the Operations-Headquarters Bureau, overseeing the LAPD’s operational support entities.

In addition to Piersol in West and Davis in South, Deputy Chief Ronald C. Banks will head the Central Bureau and Deputy Chief Michael Bostic will run the Valley Bureau.

* Cmdr. Carlo Cudio will be the interim chief information officer, pending the selection of a civilian within the next two months to fill that post.

* Cmdr. Garrett Zimmon, who was in charge of community policing under Chief Williams, will head the newly formed Transit Group, assuming the LAPD receives approval to absorb the police functions of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

* Cmdr. Scott LaChasse will head the Criminal Intelligence Group, Cmdr. Richard LeGarra will run the Detective Services Group, Cmdr. David Kalish will head the Community Affairs Group, and Cmdr. Maurice Moore will serve as governmental liaison officer.