Chief Hailed on His Home Turf

He was a standout rookie, full of expectation and possibility, when he received his badge at a 1965 Police Academy graduation. On Friday, he returned to his training ground having achieved his highest goal: Bernard C. Parks was formally sworn in as the 52nd chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

In a gala held on a hot, muggy afternoon, Parks was honored by nearly 1,000 well-wishers, including former LAPD officials, city dignitaries, family and friends--including two of his grade school teachers. Upbeat and optimistic, Parks circulated among a throng at a noon reception in the sweltering academy gymnasium.

He was greeted by three former LAPD chiefs: Ed Davis, Daryl Gates and Bayan Lewis, who held the job for three months on an interim basis after Willie L. Williams was denied a second five-year contract.

Williams, who came to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, was never mentioned by name. But Parks made a sly reference to his former boss, who had tried to drive him out of the department.

In his speech, Parks listed several high-profile events in LAPD history, including the 1965 Watts riots, the Rodney King beating, the 1992 riots and the O.J. Simpson trial. “And, a trip to Berlin in 1994,” quipped Parks, referring to his whereabouts right before Williams demoted him.

Parks’ rise through the ranks is viewed by many as a plus: He is seen as an insider who can maneuver the maze of politics and bureaucracy in the nation’s second-largest city.

*

Confirmed by the City Council 10 days ago, Parks is the first chief selected under new City Charter rules allowing the mayor to handpick the head of the Police Department. In less than two weeks, Parks already has shown he will be a tough leader. He has announced a shake-up of his command staff aimed at eliminating positions and flattening the bureaucracy, asked the Police Commission to help kill flexible work schedules--favored by officers that had been in place in a six-station pilot project--and strongly endorsed a crime-fighting program that holds command officers responsible for their turf.

Parks barely mentioned the arrest late Thursday of City Councilman Mike Hernandez, saying at a news conference after the ceremony that the case is being handled by a multi-agency task force and that he would not comment on the investigation.

Parks is known as a tough disciplinarian who has a meticulous mind for detail and a complete devotion to police work. (He told a private meeting of command officers recently that he is available from 5 a.m. until midnight daily but can be paged during the other five hours as well.)

Riordan noted Parks’ work ethic in his remarks: “Bernard brings new meaning to the word ‘workaholic.’ ”

The mayor also described the splash he believes his new chief has already made. At an Echo Park elementary school, one of several stops made by the pair over the past week, Parks was surrounded by the students.

“I stood in the corner hoping one child would ask for my autograph,” the mayor said. “Not one did.”

City Council President John Ferraro shot back from the stage: “Smart kids.”

*

Parks’ top rival for the job, Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker, attended the noon reception but stayed mostly in the back of the room, also greeting well-wishers. Kroeker repeatedly said he will remain with the LAPD but didn’t say for how long. Under Parks’ reorganization plan, Kroeker will serve as a special assistant--but without a staff. He said he was disappointed by the position.

Asked about that response, Parks said: “I think the real issue is, I’m not disappointed.”

In brief remarks after Riordan pinned the shiny chief’s badge on his uniform, Parks said he wants the LAPD to be forward-looking with “leadership, leadership, leadership.”

He said officers should follow the “5 C’s”: character, courage, conscience, compassion and commitment.”

He continued: “We also need the “F word”--Followers.”

In the only glitch during the afternoon, the four helicopters scheduled to fly over the academy were late, leaving all the officers standing, in salute, for a couple of minutes. Finally, the helicopters appeared and Parks said: “One thing we’ll have to work on is the response time of air support.”

With his family members wearing miniature “chief” badges he gave them, the tall, commanding new chief moved easily in his remarks from comments about his goals to statements about better relations both within and outside the department.

*

Local politicians and members of the Police Commission expressed confidence that Parks will live up to the job--even considering their high expectations.

“The road ahead is not going to be an easy one,” said Ferraro. “We are close behind him 100%.”

Commission President Edith Perez added: “The eyes of the world are on the Los Angeles Police Department. We are absolutely confident that you will lead us to better policing and unite us as a city in the process.”