Evaluation Criteria for Chief Listed

Embattled Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks will be evaluated on criteria ranging from crime prevention to officer morale to determine whether he deserves another five years at his post, the Police Commission said Thursday.

In announcing the criteria at a news conference, commission President Rick Caruso said a decision could be reached within 45 days. He also stressed that commission members have not made up their minds, despite the recent announcement by Mayor James K. Hahn that he opposes Parks’ reappointment.

Under the City Charter, which allows the police chief to serve a maximum of two five-year terms, the reappointment decision falls to the commission, not the mayor. The commission’s decision is subject to a City Council veto, which would require a two-thirds vote.

Several of the eight criteria cover issues that Hahn raised in his statements in opposition to the chief--among them, officer morale and recruitment.

But commissioners’ oft-voiced concerns about crime are also reflected, as are what one commissioner termed the “standard stuff” of personnel evaluations, such as whether Parks manages effectively.

Caruso took the opportunity Thursday to brush off speculation that the panel is politically beholden to the mayor, emphasizing that commissioners would make independent decisions based on a “thorough and fair” evaluation of Parks’ tenure.

Although commissioners are mayoral appointees, Caruso stressed that their charge is to represent city residents, not Hahn.

“Personalities, politics and spin have no place in our process,” Caruso said, adding: “The commission’s guiding principle is what is in the best interests of the residents of Los Angeles.”

Afterward, Cmdr. Gary Brennan, an LAPD spokesman, said Parks had received the criteria but had not yet been versed in the procedure the commission will follow. Nonetheless, “he is preparing to address each one of the issues in the criteria, and he looks forward to having that opportunity,” Brennan said. “He feels confident that each can be thoroughly and adequately addressed.”

Parks, speaking of the commission at an unrelated news conference in the San Fernando Valley, said Thursday: “They say they’re independent. All we can do is go by their judgments and their word.”

Hahn said the commission had put together “a good set of criteria.” He added that the decision “is in their hands, and I want them to hear from other officials, the community and other interested people and really take this job seriously.”

The question of whether to reappoint Parks or replace him became more clouded this month when Hahn declared his opposition. The announcement angered many prominent leaders of the city’s African American community, who support the chief, himself African American, and who provided Hahn with a key base of support during his mayoral campaign. The decision was applauded by various detractors of the chief, including some longtime civilian critics of the LAPD and police union leaders.

Chief’s Term Marked by Strife With Union

Parks, a 37-year department veteran, is considered a strong disciplinarian, and the number of officers investigated for misconduct has expanded greatly under his watch. His term has been characterized by bitter controversies with the officers union, which criticizes his discipline system and says most of its members do not have confidence in his leadership.

The chief was appointed in 1997 under former Mayor Richard Riordan, now a Republican gubernatorial candidate. Caruso said the commission will try to decide whether to reappoint Parks within the next 30 to 45 days, but may postpone the decision up to the statutory deadline in mid-May if members feel more time is needed.

He said he is personally “on the fence” about Parks. The chief will have the opportunity to meet with the commission and make his case, Caruso said, adding: “We will give him as much time as he wants.”

Although comments on the reappointment question will be taken during regular commission meetings, which are open to the public, most of the proceedings will take place out of the public eye in closed sessions to consider personnel matters, said Joe Gunn, executive director of the commission.

Criteria Termed Deliberately General

The eight criteria released by the panel are deliberately general, Caruso said. They are: vision and leadership; control and prevention of crime; management; police reform; strategies for community policing and programs; communications; personnel administration and employee relations; and relations with the Police Commission.

Under each of these categories, the panel has listed a number of questions.

For example: “Has the chief developed an overall vision and image of the [LAPD] that has enhanced its accountability, integrity and professionalism?” and “Has the chief developed annual budgets over the past five years that maximize ... resources?”

Several of the issues, such as community policing and communications with prosecutors, have been the focus of high-profile debate during Parks’ tenure.

The commission will ask, for example, “How has the chief effectively utilized the senior lead officer program during his tenure?” according to the document.

Hahn has alleged that Parks has not pushed to use senior lead officers--specially designated outreach officers--as well as he might since reinstating the program under community pressure.

Commissioner David Cunningham said the panel used a consultant to help develop its criteria. Methods employed to evaluate former Chief Willie Williams, and the 1991 Christopher Commission report on police reform, were also considered as guides, he said.

Caruso said the mayor’s opposition to Parks “made our job more difficult,” but he stopped short of criticizing Hahn, saying the mayor offered “a valued opinion.”

Asked later why Hahn would go public with his opposition to Parks if he was not assured that a majority on the commission would support him, Caruso answered: “That’s a risk he’s running. We may reappoint the chief.”

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Times staff writer Matea Gold contributed to this report.