ELECTIONS / L.A. MAYOR : Woo Criticized for Ad Showing Him With Chief : Campaign: Police chief did not give permission for photo in TV commercial. Candidate spokeswoman defends its use.

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Michael Woo, who has built his campaign around his efforts to oust a politically active police chief, was criticized Monday for airing a TV ad featuring the new chief, Willie L. Williams.

Mayoral rival Nate Holden complained that the ad could lead voters to believe that Williams has endorsed Woo when the chief has taken a pledge of neutrality in the race.

Police Commission President Jesse A. Brewer, who works closely with Williams, also criticized the commercial, which Brewer said caught the new chief by surprise.

“I think that is inappropriate. I’ve talked to the chief about it. He has not given his permission to anyone to use his photo in the campaign,” said Brewer, a former LAPD assistant chief who has steered clear of personal involvement in the campaign.

Creating an impression that Williams is supporting a candidate runs counter to careful efforts by the new chief and the Police Commission to distance Williams from the type of controversial City Hall political activity dabbled in by former Chief Daryl F. Gates, Brewer said. Gates was criticized in 1991 for publicly backing Councilman Hal Bernson for reelection.

Speaking about Williams, Brewer said: “The chief has to deal with all elected officials. Certainly, it is unfair” for a candidate to include him in a commercial without permission.

“When (Williams) first came here . . . we advised him: ‘We don’t want you to become political.’ I think as chief of police you have to be apolitical.”

The ad features a black and white photograph of Woo and Williams standing together in front of a police car. A narrator says: “Mike Woo was the first to stand up for a new chief. He helped bring us Willie Williams and a new beginning.”

Woo campaign manager Vicky Rideout said the campaign has no plans to pull the ads. Nor has it been requested to do so by the chief, she said.

“We don’t say that he has endorsed Mike Woo,” she said.

Rideout said Woo called Williams after hearing of Holden’s complaints. “As far as I know, there’s not any problem,” she added. Woo could not be reached.

However, Cmdr. David Gascon said that Williams called Woo and “expressed his concerns.”

Commissioner Stanley Sheinbaum said the ad puts the chief in an “awkward situation.”

On one hand, Williams must maintain good relations with Woo’s mayoral rivals on the City Council who deliberate on the police budget. On the other hand, he must distance himself from the TV ad without angering Woo, who would be his boss if elected mayor.

That might explain the diplomatic response from William’s spokesman.

Lt. John Dunkin said a photograph of the two officials together “in no way implies an endorsement by the chief.”

“Since taking office, Chief Williams has had his picture taken with a number of City Council members and other government officials,” Dunkin said. “That’s simply something that happens when you’re the chief of police of Los Angeles.”

Garry South, communications director for Woo, said: “If there is concern about the mention of Willie Williams’ name in this campaign, we are certainly not the first offenders. Every single one of these other candidates bring him up constantly like they’re best friends and have arguments at the debates about who talked to him last and who talked to him the most.”