Parks Outlines Goals to Command Staff

In his first formal meeting with the top brass, new Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks revealed some goals but not his most heavily anticipated plan: a new management structure.

Although he did not offer specifics, the chief told the 120 or so officers gathered at the Police Academy on Friday afternoon that he wants to streamline the bureaucracy at Parker Center, trimming the layers between the chief’s office and the police stations.

More details could come next week, probably Thursday, according to several command staff members. Meanwhile, the anticipation is strong.

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“People had expectations,” said one officer who attended. “We’re kind of just sitting here waiting to see what’s going to happen.”

Parks was warmly received by his top staff, who appeared to appreciate his direct approach. Deputy Chief David Gascon said the officers view Parks as a leader. “He set the tone,” Gascon said. “He’s the boss. He was extremely confident and articulate.”

Parks was particularly well-received when he told the officers to abandon the “command dress” uniform--a dark, double-breasted jacket with white shirt and tie--that former Chief Willie L. Williams had ordered top brass to wear on formal occasions. Stressing that he wanted the department to show more unity, Parks told the officers to wear the regular uniforms of the rank and file.

While pleased with the uniform change, some officers grumbled about having to shell out $600 to $700 a few years ago for the dress uniform--known by some as the “bus driver’s uniform” or the “Ralph Kramden uniform.”

Said Capt. Ronald Bergmann of the Foothill station: “I have a $600 uniform sitting in my closet I’ll never wear again. But we like the regular uniform better anyway.”

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On a more serious and controversial note, Parks told the command officers that he will ask the Police Commission on Tuesday to kill the compressed work schedule program operating at six stations. Interim Chief Bayan Lewis announced that the program would end. Parks intends to stop the pilot program in which officers work three 12-hour days a week.

The move against the compressed schedule drew criticism from the Police Protective League, which strongly supported it. Union President Dave Hepburn said the new chief should replace the program with another to “soften the blow.”

“If the first thing he does is anger them [the officers] . . . why would they want to buy into his programs?” Hepburn asked. “You can’t order people to be loyal and supportive. . . . You have to garner that and demonstrate that you care.”