Time for Parks to Exit Gracefully

Re “Police Commission Rejects Parks,” April 10: L.A. Police Chief Bernard Parks says he will fight the decision of the Police Commission to not renew his contract, and he will go to the City Council. Why, may I ask, is he appealing to a group of politicians when his own rank and file do not want him around? I respect his use of the system and due process, but why make it any harder than it has to be? Why would he wish to stay at a party where he is not welcome? It’s time for him to collect his hat and coat and make a graceful exit with what little respect he has left in this city.

He compared this to a lost battle, and his war will continue. If this is a war, Chief Parks must be made aware that he is a casualty of his own war, by his own hand, and his fellow soldiers have turned their backs on him. If he refuses to listen to the words of the Police Commission, perhaps he should listen to the sound of the rank and file who support him--the only sound is deafening silence.

Elizabeth Peisner

Woodland Hills

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Chief Parks, please leave as chief and please return as mayor; I’m sure there will be a job opening. I’ll volunteer my services to see that your return in that capacity happens.

Jeffrey L. Walker

Los Angeles

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Did not Chief Parks state when he was selected for the post of chief of police that at the end of his five years he would abide by the Police Commission’s decision on whether to seek another five-year term? Chief Parks, who is turning this situation into a political one? Who is behaving like a politician, making promises that are not meant to be kept?

Irving Leemon

Northridge

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“Hahn Isn’t Welcome, Black Leaders Say” (April 6) reports that Mayor James Hahn is no longer welcome at the Urban League’s awards dinner or black churches because he doesn’t support another term for Parks. This is disturbing. Does the Urban League think that Hahn should support Parks just because he is black, even though Hahn feels that Parks didn’t do a good job? Or even more disturbing, does the group think that Hahn approves of Parks but won’t support him because of racist reasons?

Turn the situation around. Imagine a largely white group telling a black mayor that he’s not welcome at an event because the black mayor doesn’t support another term for a white police chief. Now, that would be front-page news.

Greg Steinberg

Los Angeles