L.A. Police Panel Expected to Name Interim Chief Today

The Los Angeles Police Commission will meet in closed session today and is expected to name an interim police chief to serve until Chief Willie L. Williams’ permanent successor is appointed.

While Mayor Richard Riordan has strongly urged the body he appointed to select Deputy Chief Bernard Parks to the interim post, the five commissioners have nonetheless struggled in reaching a decision as they wrestle with the political and departmental implications.

Among the panel’s concerns:

* Should they select Parks and risk being labeled “tools” of the mayor--a criticism already leveled at them last month when they refused to appoint Williams to a second five-year term?

* Should they select any candidate who is interested in taking the permanent post, thus giving that candidate the inside track on the long-term position?

* Should they give the interim job to a candidate who is a finalist for a chief’s job elsewhere--Assistant Chief Bayan Lewis, who is a finalist in Reno?

“There are a lot pressures on the commission right now,” said one source close to the panel.

Two members favor giving the job to Parks--who is also interested in the permanent post, according to sources. Two other members prefer a candidate who is not seeking the permanent position. A fifth member is apparently still undecided on the issue.

The decision has been made more difficult by the mayor’s repeated comments of support for Parks. On Tuesday, Commission President Raymond C. Fisher, who has expressed concerns about giving the interim job to a candidate interested in the permanent job, met with Riordan to discuss his views.

Fisher declined to reveal the outcome of the discussions.

Besides Parks and Lewis, the other candidates who have been interviewed for the interim chief’s job are Deputy Chiefs Martin Pomeroy, Mark Kroeker and David Gascon. Pomeroy and Lewis have said they are not interested in the permanent job; the other three would like the permanent position.

Fisher said the interim chief would work with Williams until his departure, which is expected to occur in mid-May. Williams’ term officially expires July 6, but he has agreed to leave the post early as part of a $375,000 severance package approved recently by the City Council. The deal includes Williams’ being retained as a department consultant for a year.

Williams has refused to say who he supports for either the permanent or the interim job.

Meanwhile Tuesday, the chief responded to published and televised reports on the handling of the internal investigations of LAPD officers who had been accused of domestic abuse.

“We don’t cover up. We don’t run away from, but we aggressively pursue, individuals who are accused by either their husband or wife, a parent, a daughter or son or child or any other . . . who’s involved in any type of domestic violence,” Williams said.

According to court documents, as many as 62 police were involved in domestic abuse violations investigated by the LAPD during a five-year period ending in 1992. None of those officers were arrested. Another 23 LAPD officers were investigated for alleged domestic abuse by other law enforcement agencies, in which nine officers were arrested.

The cases include allegations that LAPD officers have slugged, pushed, choked and bitten their wives and girlfriends.

Williams disputed published comments from his chief departmental spokesman that the cases were being reviewed by an internal task force. Nonetheless, Williams said the department is following up on allegations of domestic abuse.

“We will be reviewing any complaints or accusations that come from any quarter, whether they are from television, the media or individuals, as we have in the past. . . ,” he said.

Fisher said the chief will report back to the commission on the issue next week.

Cmdr. Tim McBride, the department’s spokesman, maintained that some of the domestic abuse cases will indeed be reviewed by a task force, while the remainder will be reviewed by other department officials.