Three insiders being considered for LAPD chief

By Joel Rubin and Phil Willon

Oct. 28, 2009 12 AM PT

The Los Angeles Police Commission forwarded to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday the names of three finalists to become the next police chief -- a list that contained no women or minorities, but sparked little initial criticism.

Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, Deputy Chief Charlie Beck and Deputy Chief Michel Moore will now compete to be chosen by the mayor to replace outgoing Chief William J. Bratton, who steps down Saturday after seven years at the head of the Los Angeles Police Department.

In the not-so-distant past, when tensions between the LAPD and minority communities in the city ran high, the selection of three white men as finalists would almost certainly have set off intense criticism. On Tuesday, however, news of the decision was met generally with praise as officials and outsiders said reforms made under Bratton had largely rendered racial and gender politics a moot point.

John Mack, the commission president and a prominent African American civil rights activist, said he was struck by how little attention was devoted to race and ethnicity when the panel held community meetings throughout the city seeking the public’s guidance on a new chief, including in Watts, Crenshaw and the San Fernando Valley.

“Seven years ago, there’s no question in my mind that race would have been a hot priority,” he said. “I’m not naive -- we have not become a colorblind society yet. But I think this is an indication of the progress that’s been made by this department.

“We can stand here and say in good conscience that clearly, our ultimate decision . . . really represents who we consider to be the three best candidates for the job.”

Moore’s father was Basque and Moore is identified in department rosters as Hispanic. His mother was white and his heritage has not played a significant role in defining him within the department.

At a news conference to announce the names, Villaraigosa said his choice looms as possibly “the single most important decision I will make” as mayor. He is scheduled to meet this afternoon with an advisory panel and then interview Beck at Getty House, the mayor’s official residence. He’ll meet with McDonnell on Thursday, Moore on Friday, and is expected to announce his choice Monday.

Moore, 49, is a 28-year veteran of the LAPD and is widely credited with helping to push down crime rates in the San Fernando Valley during his more than four years in charge of the bureau. As a captain in 2000, Moore was assigned the difficult task of helping to run the department’s notorious Rampart Division in the wake of accusations of widespread corruption and abuses.

Beck, 56, is a 32-year veteran of the force and the son of a retired LAPD deputy chief. As commander of the Detective Bureau, he is a popular figure with the rank-and-file, who generally view him as a serious crime-fighter, and with the city’s civil rights leaders, who hold him up as a progressive thinker on community relations and police conduct.

McDonnell, 50, has served in the department for 28 years and, in addition to Bratton, has been the public face of the LAPD for several years in his role as chief of staff. Widely respected in the department and beyond, he was a candidate for chief in 2002 and Bratton went on to use an extensive plan developed by McDonnell as a blueprint for reshaping the department. With Bratton’s frequent trips out of town, McDonnell has often been called to stand in as chief.

That Beck and McDonnell made the cut came as little surprise to most LAPD observers, as both have been considered front-runners for the post since Bratton announced his decision to step down last month. The selection of Moore was more unexpected, because of his relatively low profile in the department compared to the other two finalists and because of the others who were passed over.

Left out of the finalist group was Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger, an influential commander who oversees the department’s Office of Operations and was viewed as a strong contender for the job. Paysinger is also the LAPD’s highest-ranking African American officer. Assistant Chief Sharon Papa, who oversees support services and is the department’s highest-ranking female, was also thought to have a shot at making the final list.

Having worked with each of the finalists, Villaraigosa is familiar with them, but said he will try to extinguish any preconceived notions. Villaraigosa said the interviews will be critical to his deliberations because he will get a chance to “look them in the eyeball.”

“One of the things I loved about Bill Bratton is that, when he told me something, I could take it to the bank,” Villaraigosa said. “The next chief has got to be someone that I trust.”

Bratton’s shadow loomed large over Tuesday’s announcement. Both Beck and Moore went out of their way to emphasize that, if chosen, they would work to build on the success Bratton had fighting crime while also pushing through reforms on police conduct and accountability. It is the type of progress that Villaraigosa, commission members and other officials have said they will demand of the next chief. McDonnell did not return calls seeking comment.

Under the terms of the City Charter, the commission ranked the finalists in order of preference. Mack and Villaraigosa declined to reveal the order of the rankings, and the mayor is not obligated to give any weight to the order. If he decides against all three -- something that is considered highly unlikely -- the commission will send him a second tier of names.

The City Council must ratify the mayor’s choice. And with a gap of at least a week expected before the council votes, the commission Tuesday appointed Deputy Chief Michael Downing to serve as temporary chief. “I’m going to be put in the role of a shepherd,” said Downing, who didn’t apply to be chief.

City Council President Eric Garcetti praised the qualifications of each finalist, saying the three “reflect some of the most creative and innovative thinking in the department.”

Garcetti added that the mayor’s choice will have to prove to council members that he is not only serious about fighting crime but also has developed deep ties with L.A.’s diverse communities.

“It’s going to be important for each one of these individuals to illustrate their cultural fluency,” Garcetti said. “I’m sure there are those who will be disappointed that this was not a more racially or gender-wise more diverse group, and that’s a fair criticism.”

joel.rubin@latimes.com

phil.willon@latimes.com

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Narrowing the field

The finalists for Los Angeles police chief do not include any minorities or women, but are roundly praised for their experience, community relations and commitment to improving the department.

Jim McDonnell

Rank: Assistant chief

Position: Chief of staff

Years in the LAPD: 28

Age: 50

Family life: Married with two daughters

Education: Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, bachelor of science in criminal justice; USC, master of public administration

Charlie Beck

Rank: Deputy chief

Position: Chief of detectives

Years in the LAPD: 32

Age: 56