3 Members Leave Panel in Dispute With Police Captain

A dispute between the captain in charge of the Van Nuys police station and members of a community advisory board he appointed has led to the departure of three members under protest and an internal review by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Some members of the Community-Police Advisory Board complained that Capt. Robert McNamara has tried to turn the panel into a booster club instead of what it was created to be--an independent body providing advice.

“It seems almost like we are leaning toward becoming a support group for the police. That is not our role,” member Carlos Ferreyra said.

At the center of the dispute is Police Chief Bernard Parks’ controversial decision in March to reassign 170 senior lead officers serving as full-time liaisons to the public back to patrol duties.

The officers, as well as the Community-Police Advisory Boards, were considered by many to be two key elements of the department’s community policing program. A move toward community-based policing was recommended by the Christopher Commission in response to the police beating of Rodney G. King.

“I feel very strongly that any substantial implementation of community policing in Los Angeles is basically over,” City Councilwoman Laura Chick said.

She said she has watched the dispute in Van Nuys with misgivings and complained to the department brass about her fear that the community board was being undermined.

“I feel very badly both for the potential not being reached by the CPAB and particularly for the Van Nuys community, which wanted to be involved,” Chick said.

The Police Commission is set next month to take up proposals to reform the system, and better spell out powers of the police and civilian volunteer members, according to Commissioner Dean Hansell.

“I don’t think anybody wants these to just be booster groups,” he said.

The controversy over Parks’ action on the senior lead officers drew Van Nuys advisory board member Alan Stone to attend a protest rally as an observer.

A few days later, he was called into McNamara’s office.

Stone said McNamara mistakenly believed that he opposed Parks’ transfer of the senior lead officers, when in fact he was not an opponent.

Stone said the message he got from McNamara was, “If I wasn’t going to support the program, he didn’t need that on the board.” Stone told the captain he would not resign.

A few days later, Stone said, he received a letter advising him that McNamara had decided not to extend his term on the board.

“I thought it was pretty crummy,” Stone said.

Another board member who attended the rally, Brendan Breslin, went because he opposed Parks’ decision.

At the next board meeting, McNamara voiced concern about those who were questioning department programs.

“The captain made it clear he didn’t tolerate activism and dissent,” Breslin said. “So I saw no reason to continue on the board,” and he resigned.

Breslin said the captain’s unwillingness to act on the members’ concerns has rendered the board ineffective.

A third member, who asked not to be identified, said she was also asked to leave.

McNamara did not return calls, but the turmoil in Van Nuys has caught the attention of the LAPD brass.

“There is a dispute among some members of the CPAB,” said Cmdr. Dave Kalish, an LAPD spokesman.

In recent weeks, internal affairs investigators have interviewed Stone, Breslin and other board members, asking whether McNamara exerted inappropriate influence to quiet dissent on the panel or remove critics, the board members said.

Stone and Breslin said they believed that they were treated unfairly, but told investigators that they did not think McNamara engaged in misconduct.

Internal affairs detectives also interviewed board member Don Schultz, president of the Van Nuys Homeowners Assn., who said he is satisfied with the board’s relationship with McNamara.

“I like this captain. He is addressing all of the issues that need to be addressed. We’ve had good support from the department,” said Schultz, who also opposed the decision to reassign the senior lead officers.

Ferreyra said the system that allows each area captain to appoint board members is largely to blame for rendering the panels ineffective.

Some City Council members have called for an overhaul of the program to allow community groups and council members to recommend or appoint some members.

Ferreyra also said McNamara recently suggested that the board support an officer for an “officer of the year award,” something done in the past by booster groups such as the Mid-Valley Police Council.

“I think we’re going to be saying no to that,” Ferreyra said. “That isn’t want we are supposed to be doing.”