Williams Asks for Funds to Meet Reform Mandate

Police Chief Willie L. Williams told the Police Commission on Friday that city officials should “stop bickering” and provide the Police Department with enough money to meet the “mandate for change” outlined by the special panel that investigated the LAPD’s response to the riots.

Agreeing that Los Angeles needs to do more to prepare for future crises, the commission authorized Williams to immediately implement many of the sweeping reform measures recommended by the Webster Commission.

The vote by the Police Department’s civilian oversight board to accept the report’s recommendations is the first step in what city officials say will be a swift effort to develop emergency preparedness plans and support the chief’s efforts to restructure the department.

But standing in the way is a city budget crisis that does not immediately allow for some of the loftier goals proposed by the Webster Commission. Moreover, intense mayoral politicking has turned police reform into a contentious campaign issue.

In brief remarks, Williams said he has been working to reform the department since he replaced former Chief Daryl F. Gates on June 30, but the Webster report creates “a mandate for change.”

He added: “It also creates a mandate for the elected and appointed city officials . . . to once and for all stop bickering and examine the very difficult issue of resource allocation and provide the Los Angeles Police Department with the resources that are necessary.”

In its comprehensive analysis released Wednesday, the commission headed by former CIA and FBI Director William H. Webster and Police Foundation President Hubert Williams said a lack of planning led the city to bungle its response to the deadliest and most destructive civil disturbance in modern U.S. history.

Police commissioners told the chief to begin implementing those recommendations that do not affect the budget, such as developing a comprehensive emergency plan with other city leaders, continuing to move officers from desk jobs into the field, and training officers in cultural sensitivity and riot response.

In addition, Williams was called on to evaluate assistance agreements with other law enforcement agencies, consider giving sworn officers who are working desk jobs more training to prepare them for street duty, and simplify the organization of command posts during emergencies.

The commission also directed Williams to study other recommendations in the hefty report that would require more funding, including the need for new emergency communications equipment and a modern command center.

Police Commission President Jesse A. Brewer said the city is far better prepared for an outbreak of violence than it was April 29 when the not guilty verdicts in the Rodney G. King beating case set off a wave of violence that left at least 51 people dead and caused nearly $1 billion in damage.

“The chief came in and looked at the problem,” Brewer said. “He didn’t need the Webster report to see the problems. He’s been meeting with his top staff and in the community. He’s begun the process of reorganizing the department.”

Williams offered no specifics on his reorganization plan for the department, but said he will meet with top police officials next week and begin the first phase of changes in the next four to six weeks.

The City Council will consider lifting a hiring freeze on top LAPD positions next week, and Williams says he intends to free some officers for patrol by merging or dismantling selected units. In addition, the chief is pushing for approval of a November ballot initiative that would raise property taxes to pay for 1,000 more officers over five years.