Bernard Parks

Regarding “Parks Finally Gains Top Job . . . Now for the Hard Part,” editorial, Aug. 6: Frankly, I am amazed by the amount of criticism Bernard Parks has received during this selection process. Many fail to realize that he lost the opportunity to be police chief when he was edged out by one point to Willie Williams five years ago.

Finally, with the support of the Police Commission, mayor, City Council and many in the rank and file of the Los Angeles Police Department, the city has a police chief who is a stern disciplinarian, exudes leadership, has a good grasp of local politics and is a person who has a vision for the future of the LAPD.

Welcome aboard, Bernie, and good luck.

LARRY A. MEAD

Palmdale

* Your editorial calls for Parks to get rid of officers who violate LAPD rules against excessive force and racial and sexual harassment.

One of Chief Parks’ first official acts against racial harassment should be the firing of, or at least, the demotion of, the black LAPD sergeant who slandered the good name of Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker (“Race Enters Contest for Chief’s Job,” June 12).

GEORGE R. MYERS

La Crescenta

* County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky seemed to imply in the Aug. 6 article about Parks that having little time for a personal life and being on a mobile phone and pager were a bad thing. I want a police chief who is obsessed with his job! Do we all remember a police chief who had no plan for the King verdicts? Who would not leave a political dinner to man the command post that night? A chief who refused to call the National Guard?

I want to see a chief with a mobile phone, a pager and very little personal life; but with a dedication for his job like no other and a plan for every possible crisis.

GREG HRONEK

Newbury Park