Parks Defends Role in Sergeant’s Stalking Case

Police Chief Bernard C. Parks on Tuesday defended his actions in a case involving a sergeant who had been barred from entering Parker Center, where his ex-girlfriend is a detective.

Sgt. Howard Irvin, who is on unpaid leave and facing a Board of Rights hearing for a felony stalking conviction, was arrested last month for violating the court order prohibiting him from entering LAPD headquarters.

Parks said he met with Irvin at Parker Center in August to discuss the allegations--unaware of the temporary restraining order prohibiting Irvin from entering the building.

The incident prompted an LAPD investigation, which led a judge to issue a warrant for Irvin’s arrest. Parks intervened and asked department officials to explain to the judge that he helped set up the meeting at Parker Center, and that Irvin might not be completely at fault.

“We wanted to make sure that all information from both sides of the issue were presented,” said Parks, who was later criticized by Irvin’s former girlfriend for getting involved in the matter.