Padilla Wins Police Union Support in 7th District Race

The Los Angeles police officers’ union endorsed Alex Padilla for the City Council on Friday, ending a bitterly fought contest for the support of the rank-and-file in the 7th District race.

In a city where crime and policing are priority issues, the backing of the Police Protective League has carried weight in previous elections. It was seen as a coveted endorsement, and most of the six candidates for the northeast San Fernando Valley seat lobbied for the union’s backing.

League officials said Padilla was viewed as the most qualified candidate with the best chance of winning.

“He knows the business community and understands the people and the problems of our streets and neighborhoods,” Dave Hepburn, the league’s president, said in a statement.

League director Dennis Zine said Padilla supported important league goals that have been opposed by Police Chief Bernard Parks, including a modified work schedule for officers and the senior lead officer program.

Parks infuriated the rank-and-file last year by canceling the program allowing officers to work four days a week, 10 hours a day. Parks also reassigned senior lead officers, who had served as liaisons to the public, to patrol duties.

Padilla announced early in his campaign that the officers should be reinstated as senior leads. He also supports binding arbitration, Zine said.

“Alex Padilla was on target on the issues of importance to us,” Zine said. “He’s concerned about making sure officers are happy.”

Other candidates claimed better credentials. Ollie McCaulley is a former South Gate police officer. Raul Godinez II, who has one brother who is a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department and another brother who is a sheriff’s deputy, said he had worked hard to get the league’s backing.

The league’s endorsement, which will be formally presented Monday at a news conference in Pacoima, also carries a commitment of finances and police officers as campaign volunteers, Zine said.

Padilla also picked up the endorsement of City Controller Rick Tuttle on Friday.

Meanwhile, Barbara Perkins, another candidate in the race, said she has won the endorsement of Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke.

Voters will get a chance to see and hear from the 7th District candidates in person today during a forum beginning 9:30 a.m. at San Fernando High School.