Williams Says He Will Stay and Overcome Difficulties

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams, forcefully proclaiming his determination to overcome the controversy that has dogged him for weeks, defended his management and vowed to carry on despite his feud with his Police Commission bosses.

“I think I’m the hardest-working individual of the LAPD, bar none,” the embattled chief said in an interview last week, his first since becoming embroiled in a controversy over his management of the department and his alleged lying to the Police Commission about accepting free accommodations in Las Vegas. “I don’t think there’s an employee of the department that puts in overall more hours or more effort, more sweat, or sheds more blood for the LAPD than I do.”

In the interview with The Times, Williams declined to comment on the specific allegations against him, but stressed that he believes the issue can be resolved soon and that he can lead the Police Department despite the recent controversies.

“My relationships with the commission have never deteriorated to the point where we can’t be professionals and do the job of managing the LAPD,” Williams said. “There will always be differences between any chief and any Police Commission. . . . But there has not been any action or inaction on anyone’s part that has told Willie Williams that he can’t function with the Police Commission.”

Although Williams acknowledged that “it’s going to take time to rebuild personal relationships” with some of the commissioners, he insisted that nothing has ruptured his professional dealings with them--that business goes on as usual and decisions continue to be made.

Williams’ determination to work with the commission comes even as some of his supporters attempt to drum up doubts about the commissioners and their motivation. Some City Council members have suggested that the commissioners, who are mayoral appointees, disciplined the chief as part of a broader campaign by Mayor Richard Riordan to undermine Williams’ effectiveness and popularity and ultimately oust him.

Riordan, his aides and members of the commission all have denied any such campaign.

Throughout the interview in his sixth-floor office at Downtown police headquarters, Williams downplayed the seriousness of the discord between himself and his bosses. He also denied any significant strife between him and his top underlings and dismissed media reports of rank-and-file dissatisfaction with his leadership as “b.s.”

Instead, the chief stressed his record of accomplishment, ticking off the progress he said he has made since taking command of the LAPD three years ago.

New equipment, improvements to various police stations, settlement of a contentious labor dispute, implementation of more flexible work schedules, hiring of more officers and installation of computers in some police facilities--all have occurred under Williams’ leadership, and the chief said officers and department observers sometimes fail to give him sufficient credit for that string of accomplishments.

“We haven’t done a good job of marketing the department to our employees and the public,” Williams said. “That’s what we have to improve on.”

Although the recent turmoil has raised deep doubts about whether Williams will be reappointed to a second five-year term when the current one ends in 1997, the chief said he was not troubled by reports of officers anticipating a change in leadership.

“That goes with the territory,” he said. “If you’re a leader and you let that distract you, you might as well wave your hands and give up now. It doesn’t bother me. I don’t lose sleep over it, and I don’t worry about it.”

As for potential successors, Williams, his voice uncharacteristically sharp, added: “I would suggest that the train may be a long time coming in the station for those folks waiting.”