Ex-Mayor Yorty Accuses Bradley of Dividing L.A. : Politics: In a speech before the Greater Valley Lions Club, he denounces the call for Police Chief Daryl Gates’ resignation.

The crowd was small, no entourage was in evidence and there wasn’t a television crew in sight.

Still, it took only a few seconds for Sam Yorty, the gravel-voiced ex-mayor of Los Angeles and longtime political foe of Tom Bradley, to prove that retirement has not cooled his fire.

“Black racists are trying to get rid of our white chief of police!” Yorty announced to the Greater San Fernando Valley Lions Club in a Thursday luncheon speech that sounded at times as if Yorty was announcing his re-entry into the political arena.

In a little more than 15 minutes, the 81-year-old Yorty, who was defeated by Bradley in 1973 after serving three terms as mayor, shot barbs at Bradley, the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Police Commission.

His harshest criticism was aimed at Bradley’s actions after the beating of Rodney G. King by Los Angeles police officers. He said that Bradley’s call for Police Chief Daryl F. Gates’ resignation had “divided the city--and I’m very worried about it.”

At the same time, he praised Gates, saying Los Angeles has the greatest police department in the country.

In addition, Yorty said Gates, not Bradley, had the support of the black community.

“If you wanted to choose somebody to trust, who would you trust--Chief Gates or Bradley?” Yorty said.

Bradley’s office responded angrily to Yorty’s remarks.

Spokesperson Vallee Bunting said Yorty’s statements “were typical of the insensitive remarks that we have come to expect from him. And we find it strange here in the mayor’s office that someone who has never shared a positive relationship with the black community in the past can now profess to speak for the aspirations of African-Americans regarding the tenure of Chief Gates.”

Bunting added that the remarks were “a slap in the face to anyone who has raised legitimate concerns regarding the police use of excessive force in minority communities.”

But the small group gathered at the Odyssey restaurant in Granada Hills--mostly senior citizens--seemed to eat up Yorty’s remarks.

The gathering treated the ex-mayor like a celebrity, asking for autographs and pictures. Several Lions told him that they were longtime fans. Yorty, dressed in a black-and-white coat, black slacks and gray shirt and tie, politely listened and posed.

Yorty, who lives in Studio City, said he was still involved and concerned about Los Angeles politics. He said he and Gates had a better grasp and rapport with the Los Angeles African-American community than other black leaders.

“Rev. Jackson of all people--what’s he know about the Los Angeles Police Department?” Yorty said of Jackson, who has also called for Gates’ resignation in the wake of the beating. “And Rev. Sharpton? These are not black leaders. They’re just spokesmen for themselves.”

Yorty added that the Police Department was not using excessive force against blacks, or indiscriminately harassing young blacks in South-Central Los Angeles. “That’s a crime-ridden area, so there are more contacts with the police down there than in other areas. And the police treat most people all right. They’re not prejudiced. They try to do a job and they have to protect the people there.”

Despite the speech and his warm reception, Yorty said he was not running for office. “No way,” he said conclusively.