Police Union to Launch Major Attack on Chief : Law enforcement: Upcoming issue of group’s newspaper mocks Williams and calls on him to release his personnel file.

After lying low in the controversy surrounding Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams, the police union is preparing to launch an aggressive campaign against the chief by publishing an issue of its newspaper that openly mocks Williams and that calls upon him to release his personnel file.

“Apparently the chief is afraid of the truth,” Los Angeles Police Protective League President Cliff Ruff writes in his message to the LAPD rank and file in the upcoming issue of the monthly newspaper. In the same column, Ruff accuses Williams of “cry-baby tactics”and of getting his way during a recent battle with his Police Commission bosses only--in Ruff’s words--after whining, sniveling and threatening to sue.

The paper, which goes to press today and will be distributed to officers this week, features a cover drawing of Williams as Pinocchio, his nose growing as he proclaims: “I am not a liar.”

That quote comes from Williams’ public repudiation of allegations that he was not truthful when questioned by the Police Commission about accepting free accommodations at a Las Vegas casino. According to sources, the commissioners unanimously concluded that Williams had lied and voted to reprimand him, but the City Council overturned the reprimand without reviewing the chief’s personnel file.

Although the council action cleared Williams’ record of the reprimand, it left a lingering doubt about his credibility among many police officers. The league initially tried to steer clear of the Williams controversy, but with so much anger growing in the ranks, the union now has embarked on a more confrontational course. .

Fearful of the fallout from an all-out battle between the chief and the league, two City Council members tried to intervene to persuade union leaders to pull their newspaper before publishing. According to sources, however, the league elected to go ahead.

The decision to challenge Williams directly is a politically charged one for the league, which enjoys popularity in some quarters but which in the past has been accused of unfairly attacking Williams and other black LAPD managers. Even some of Williams’ critics worry that the league’s entry into the controversy could drum up sympathy for him and subject the union to criticism.

But Ruff said the union has become increasingly frustrated with Williams in recent weeks. Among other things, Ruff said Williams has refused to meet with union leaders, a communication cutoff that the league bitterly resents.

In addition to the caricature on the cover, the publication features columns by the league directors, many of them highly critical of the chief.

“LAPD used to be a ship afloat with no one at the helm,” Director Ted Hunt writes in his column. “Today there is a ‘captain.’ He’s not lost. He’s at the helm steering us for the rocks. . . . The cloud of suspicion that hangs over his head, his failure to communicate and his counterproductive policies have put his administration on a pattern of self-destruct.”

The paper also makes clear that the league intends to keep up the pressure regarding the issue of his reprimand by the Police Commission. League leaders have called upon Williams to release his personnel file, which the chief has declined to do.

Calling the council’s vote to overturn the reprimand a “sham,” Director Gary Fullerton writes: “I would hope that the chief takes the high road in re-establishing his credibility with his troops by revealing the investigation. Anything short of that is unacceptable.”

In his column, Ruff sounded the same point.

“The chief has an affirmative duty to provide leadership and restore the full faith and credibility of himself with his subordinate officers,” Ruff writes. “Release the investigation. If you’re innocent, we want to support you.”

Williams was out of town Monday and could not be reached for comment.. But a department spokesman said Williams wants to continue working with the league.