Resignation Shock: What Happens Now? : Reform momentum is threatened as two respected members of Police Commission resign

The dramatic but not really surprising joint resignation of the two most prominent members of the civilian Los Angeles Police Commission puts the panel’s three other members under the spotlight. How they now respond may well determine whether true reform of the Police Department ever becomes a reality.

FOR MAYOR RIORDAN: In Enrique Hernandez Jr., the president of the Police Commission, and Rabbi Gary Greenebaum, Hernandez’s predecessor as president, mayor Richard Riordan had two blue-chip appointees. They worked hard, contributed much, elevated the debate. They are exactly the kind of people one wants in public service. But they could not swallow the City Council’s decision to overturn the commission’s unanimous reprimand of Police Chief Willie L. Williams with no examination of the facts. The council, which voted 12 to 1, wanted peace and said that the reprimand incident had been blown out of proportion. Indeed there is merit to that argument.

Now Riordan must find high-caliber replacements if the important work of civilian oversight of the Police Department is to proceed. The question is now, alas, is who would want a job that has almost no pay (the tiny stipend has been declined by the Riordan commissioners) and also is underappreciated: Not only do police, officials often wish the panel would go away but, when it suits them so do members of the City Council.

FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS: The two resignations should remind council members that there is a cost to intervention. Yes, they do have the right and the power to overturn the decision of the Police Commission. but if they are going to exercise that option again--indeed, are going to do what they please whenever they don’t like a decision--then why have commissions at all? Or why bother to serve on them? Whenever the City Council throws its weight around--remember, it didn’t even read the reprimand report, it just tossed it out--there will inevitably be a cost to pay. And sometimes that cost will be high. As in this instance.

FOR CHIEF WILLIAMS: The LAPD leader has won this round--the reprimand, is history and his file is now clean. But did he win the battle only to lose the war? That’s the question facing this charismatic but enigmatic career professional, who was censured by the Police Commission on the ground that he lied to it about accepting free accommodations form a Las Vegas hotel. Now he must work harder than ever to show the public that he is determined to be a real instrument for reform, that he can mobilize and inspire the department, that he can be the historic figure who turns the important recommendations of the Christopher Commission into actuality. If he can do that, then this political shootout between the Police Commission and the City Council will be nothing more than a sorry foot-note.