Police Union Head in Line for New LAPD Job : Labor: George Aliano says there is no connection between the expected promotion and his uncharacteristically strong support of Chief Gates after the Rodney G. King beating.

Just as the Los Angeles Police Department appears destined to undergo a radical overhaul, longtime police union president George Aliano is expected to step down this week and accept a promotion to a new job with management in the department’s bureau of special investigations.

Aliano, who for years was an outspoken adversary of Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, has been uncharacteristically supportive of the chief during the department’s crisis over the Rodney G. King incident, and many department and union sources believe Gates is simply rewarding him with the new management position.

However, the union president categorically denied Monday that his leaving the helm of the Los Angeles Police Protective League was a “pay-back” from Gates. Rather, he said, he has been looking for some time for the right opening to return to police work after almost 13 years as a union official.

“You don’t make deals with Gates,” he said. “And how could I make such a deal, after all the battles we’ve had over the years?”

Aliano has applied to become adjutant for Deputy Chief William Booth, who oversees some of the department’s most sensitive operations, including anti-terrorism, intelligence, narcotics and labor relations.

Aliano has the rank of lieutenant, and the promotion would give him a pay raise of $4,000 a year, to an annual salary of $72,000.

Neither Gates nor Booth, who is on vacation, could be reached for comment Monday. But Aliano said the adjutant’s spot is due to be filled this week, and sources close to the situation said Aliano is by far the front-runner.

Over the years, both as a league director and then the last six years as its president, Aliano has often sparred publicly with Gates. He argued with the chief over mandatory drug testing for police officers, and has protested flippant comments the chief has made that were derogatory to minorities.

Once, in 1985, when the two leaders fought over a ticket quota system, Aliano released a police survey that showed officers had more confidence in the union than in the department’s top brass. Aliano then said he was “not sure Chief Gates could withstand an election” to the chief’s job.

But when a public furor arose for Gates’ resignation after the March 3 police beating of King, Aliano repeatedly declared the union’s support for the embattled chief. When the Police Commission placed Gates on temporary leave in April, Aliano sharply criticized the commission’s action and encouraged Gates to fight the move.

When Gates said he would leave office only if the rank-and-file officers deserted him, Aliano began making preparations to fill the Los Angeles Coliseum and hold other public rallies in support of the chief. And he urged a recall of Mayor Tom Bradley in response to the mayor’s public call for the chief to retire.

“George had once been such a thorn in the chief’s side until this recent caper over Rodney King,” said one league official, who asked not to be identified. “It just goes to show you that we will all pull together when we have to, and so did George when he took the chief’s side.”

Another union official, also speaking with anonymity, said several of the league’s directors were upset that Aliano took such an active public role in supporting Gates after the King beating.

“He tended to jump out there in support of the chief, and that was a major problem,” the official said. “And now, what a deal! You back the chief and look what you get.”

Aliano, however, said that he believes he has stayed long enough in the union leadership and is looking forward to the change. But he conceded that the timing of his departure is awkward, particularly with a union fight expected over some of the recommendations suggested by the Christopher Commission to improve the Police Department.

“There’s always another mountain to climb, another political fight to get involved in, another ballot measure,” he said. “But you can’t let that hold you back. Then you’ll never leave.

“And I’m not that egotistical to think that without me here, the fight can’t be fought.”