N.Y. Police Rotation Delayed; March Off

Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward postponed his plan Thursday to rotate policemen among precincts as an anti-corruption measure, and police officers called off a protest march over the Brooklyn Bridge set for today as both sides sought a compromise to end the dispute that has curtailed crime fighting and traffic enforcement in New York City for six days.

Mayor Edward I. Koch, who was serving as a behind-the-scenes mediator, reassured New Yorkers that the work slowdown, which has also included unsuccessful attempts to jam some police radio frequencies, posed no immediate danger.

“I personally do not believe the safety of people is at this time in peril,” Koch said, disagreeing with his police commissioner, who had warned Wednesday: “What is going on here is beginning to get dangerous.”

Angry Reaction

Police officers have reacted angrily to the commissioner’s plan to rotate 20% of the patrol force each year, a plan announced after 13 police officers from the same precinct in Brooklyn were charged with stealing drugs and with other crimes. One of the policemen committed suicide before he could be arraigned.

The mayor said Thursday that his Administration was considering court action to stop the slowdown but had no immediate plans to file papers with a judge.

“We don’t think one should rattle any swords when there is hope of negotiation,” the mayor said.

Ward, at a dinnertime news conference, announced that the initial shifting of police officers he had scheduled for Monday would not take place. He said Phil Caruso, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Assn., had agreed to call off today’s planned demonstration.

“I believe this can be settled,” the commissioner said, refusing to characterize either side as backing down. “I don’t think anyone blinked,” Ward said. “I didn’t blink and Phil certainly didn’t blink, either.”

‘We’ll See’

Hours after Ward’s statement, a Police Department spokesman said he did not know what effect the temporary compromise would have on the slowdown. “We’ll see,” he said.

The commissioner said his rotation plan would be implemented as soon as possible. But he did not give any new date.

Opponents of Ward’s plan argue that police morale would be severely hampered by the transfers. “The police are feeling demoralized and are feeling punished by the alleged deeds of a few police officers who may have strayed from performing their duty correctly,” said a patrolmen’s association worker, reflecting police sentiment in the ranks. “Punishing the whole police force does a disservice to the individual police officer and the community.”

Protesting police officers have refused to write summonses, enforce traffic regulations and make arrests for some crimes. In an effort to stop what he called an “insurrection,” the police commissioner Wednesday ordered supervisors to ride in patrol cars to monitor ticket writing and arrests.

Times researcher Siobhan Flynn also contributed to this article.