Chief Parks Raises Concerns About Motorola’s Work

With the Los Angeles City Council poised to consider a $51-million contract with Motorola Inc. for a new police radio communications system, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Bernard C. Parks has raised serious concerns about the company’s performance on an existing contract to upgrade patrol car computers.

In a strongly worded letter to Motorola obtained by The Times, Parks said the company needs to assure him that it can live up to the $20-million agreement it signed with the city two years ago.

The contracts are all part of the $235-million, 1992 voter-approved Proposition M bond measure to upgrade the city’s 911 emergency system. That effort, however, has been lagging behind schedule.

Motorola’s $20-million contract to improve the Police Department’s computer data system also is badly behind schedule, and Motorola, Parks believes, is attempting to significantly change the terms of the contract in midstream.

“We understand Motorola is about to propose major changes to the system design and performance specifications,” Parks wrote to a company official. “Frankly, the fact that such a proposal is being considered causes the department to seriously question whether Motorola is committed to honoring its obligations under this contract.”

Further, Parks wrote: “Since the city may be committing to a $50-million expanded voice radio system project with Motorola, I cannot help but have reservations about Motorola’s commitment to that project in light of our experience with the [computer] project.”

The LAPD, America’s second-largest police department, has been urged by the Christopher Commission, as well as by consultants, to upgrade its communications systems.

As a result of the concerns by the LAPD and some City Council members, the latest Motorola contract on today’s council agenda probably will be delayed until January. Councilwoman Laura Chick, who heads the council’s Public Safety Committee, said she believes that the city needs to be in a strong negotiating position before it hands over yet another contract to the Illinois company.

“It’s like putting handcuffs on ourselves and saying ‘We’ll help you keep us captive,’ ” Chick said.

Motorola officials, who have about $90 million in Proposition M contracts, declined to discuss specifics of the contract, preferring to meet first with the LAPD. That meeting also is scheduled for today.

“We survive and thrive because we provide our customers with state-of-the-art technology and quality products,” said Motorola spokeswoman Pat Sturmon. “We’re eager to discuss these issues with the LAPD.”

Specifically, the LAPD is concerned that Motorola is attempting to reduce the quality and response times of the computers to be installed in police cars. Currently, officers receive 70%-80% of all emergency calls by their computer rather than radio.

The LAPD is concerned that Motorola is seeking to install computer screens, for example, that cannot be read in all types of light and conditions in squad cars. And the department is worried that the new computers will respond more slowly than the existing--outdated--system when an officer punches in license plate numbers. The department also is concerned that the company is attempting to reduce the amount of computer messages the system can handle.

“This is how these companies work: They promise you the world before they get the contract, and then they try to change it all on you,” said LAPD Cmdr. Carlo Cudio, who is overseeing the projects. “It’s like a bait and switch. . . . It’s not going to work in this case.”

Both sides agree, however, that communications technology is a fast-paced industry with frequent product changes. The question for the department and some city officials is whether the city will benefit from those changes.

Motorola insists that it will.