Bradley Joins Call for Probe of Vernon : Law enforcement: But the assistant police chief says an investigation based on religious beliefs and not job performance would violate his First Amendment rights.

Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley on Monday joined a growing number of people who believe an investigation should be conducted to determine whether controversial religious beliefs espoused by Assistant Police Chief Robert Vernon affect his job performance.

“The Police Commission and the City Council, I understand, are taking a look at that,” Bradley said. “It is quite appropriate that they do so.”

Bradley declined to elaborate on his first response to remarks made years ago by Vernon on a series of audiotapes now being sold through Vernon’s Grace Community Church in Sun Valley.

On one of the recordings, Vernon said, “Man is to be the leader over the woman. . . . Someone has to make decisions.” In discussing how to properly punish children, he said, “They won’t die if you use a stick on them. Punishment will keep them out of hell.”

Vernon, 57, is head of the Police Department’s Office of Operations and commands all patrol units and most detectives.

The controversial remarks, publicized in a recent edition of Los Angeles magazine, outraged City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, who urged newly confirmed Police Commissioner Michael R. Yamaki to launch a review of these and other opinions voiced by Vernon, and of his job performance.

Vernon said Monday that his religious beliefs do not interfere with his conduct as assistant police chief. He said an investigation based solely on his religious beliefs--rather than evidence of poor job performance--could be a violation of his First Amendment right to free speech.

“If (Bradley) is saying, ‘Let’s begin by assuming that he’s got these beliefs, therefore we have got to look for something,’ he is wrong,” Vernon said. “I think that is inappropriate and probably illegal.”

On Monday, Yaroslavsky mailed a letter about an inquiry to Melanie Lomax, acting president of the Police Commission, “confirming my interest in such a review.”

“Chief Vernon is, of course, entitled to his personal religious and political views,” Yaroslavsky said in the letter. “However, when one’s views interfere with one’s ability to perform official duties fairly and without bias, it is no longer a personal matter, but a matter of public policy.”

Yaroslavsky added that the commission should investigate allegations that Vernon’s religious beliefs have influenced promotion and the hiring and treatment of gays and lesbians. The councilman said the allegations came from unnamed police officers who contacted his office.

“If (the allegations) are without merit they should be laid to rest at once,” Yaroslavsky said.

Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, agreed, saying an investigation is warranted.

“Someone can have any kind of religious beliefs they want, no matter how repugnant or out of step they are with the morality of society,” Ripston said. “However, if his feelings about gays and lesbians, women and subduing children are introduced on his job, then he should not be assistant police chief.”