Mayor Vetoes 2 New Deputy Police Chiefs

Setting up a potential confrontation with Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley on Wednesday vetoed a provision of the City Council-approved budget that would have restored two deputy chief positions that were eliminated five years ago.

In a letter delivered to council members, Bradley commended several changes in his $2.36-billion budget that the council made before adopting its version of the 1986-87 spending plan last Friday.

But Bradley disagreed with the council’s restoration of the two deputy chief positions. That addition came after a majority of the sharply divided council sided with Gates, who demanded the positions and stalked out of a council session when faced with criticism of his request.

‘Frustrates Our Mutual Goal’

“The addition of two more deputy chiefs of police--there are seven now, including three assistant chiefs . . . frustrate(s) our mutual goal to put more police officers on the streets by minimizing desk-bound brass,” Bradley’s letter stated.

Bradley reminded the council that it cut three deputy chief positions from the department in 1982-83, following the recommendations of a management audit.

Gates, who had argued that he needs the additional chiefs to help manage the 7,000-member police force, indicated that he was irked at the mayor’s action.

“I will have no comment until the council acts on the motion, and at that time I may have considerable comment,” Gates said through a spokeswoman. On Friday, the council is due either to sustain or override the mayor’s veto.

But Gates faces a stiff challenge if he tries to summon votes to override Bradley. The council’s restoration of the two deputy chief positions came on an 8-5 vote. Under the City Charter, it takes 10 votes to override a mayoral veto.

Bradley also vetoed the council’s upgrading of a Fire Department battalion chief to assistant chief. The mayor said the upgrading, which caused far less of an uproar than the council’s deputy police chief changes, should be reviewed by the Personnel Department and the city administrative officer before inclusion in the budget.

Fireworks in ’85

The mayor’s veto sets the stage for the second annual dispute between Bradley and the council over Police Department staffing--although this year’s budget quarrels seem destined to provide fewer fireworks than last year.

For the 1985-86 budget, Bradley recommended adding 100 officers to the police force, but the council doubled that figure to 200 officers. Bradley, arguing that the city could not afford that number, vetoed the increase, and the council was unable to override him.

Bradley’s new budget calls for an increase of another 100 officers this year, and the mayor also called for funding of a new crime laboratory and police computer systems.

The council approved those items and added more police-related provisions: a $7-million high-tech helicopter loaded with communications gear that would speed emergency response during disasters and would help coordinate communications if telephones and other land-based systems were knocked out.

Also approved was a $500,000 replacement for an aging police helicopter with more conventional duties. Bradley on Wednesday agreed to those changes.

Overall, the budget approved by the council and Bradley calls for an 11% increase in spending, despite a loss to the city of $29 million in federal aid. City Administrative Officer Keith Comrie said an improved economy, providing the city with more tax money than expected, allows the city to weather the cutbacks and expand selected programs.