BAKER RETIRES AS POLICE UNION HEAD THREE-TERM PRESIDENT CALLED 'COP'S COP'.

Byline: RACHEL URANGA

Staff Writer

Known as a vigorous defender of LAPD officers who was not afraid to take on the top brass, police union President Bob Baker formally announced his retirement Thursday.

As a three-term president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the former narcotics detective used tough language to stick up for the 9,000 rank-and-file officers he represented.

Baker, 60, publicly took on everything from LAPD Chief William Bratton's early punishment of supervisors involved in the recent May Day melee to the chief's support of letting the public sit in on disciplinary hearings.

Still, he developed a reputation for being honest and a straight shooter, which earned him the respect of politicians and LAPD leaders.

"He is a cop's cop. He is adamant in his beliefs," said state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, whose proposed legislation to open police disciplinary hearings was opposed by Baker and ultimately defeated.

"We have disagreed on some policy over the years, but I do think very highly of him. He is a formidable leader and highly respected."

Baker is required to retire under the department's voluntary five-year-old deferred retirement program. His last day is Tuesday. Baker said he will take a post as a law enforcement liaison in the District Attorney's Office.

Current board Vice President Tim Sands, a 33-year department veteran, will replace him as union head.

"It's kind of bittersweet," Baker said. "I have had an unbelievable career. It's hard to walk away because it's your second family."

During Baker's tenure, the LAPD struggled to come out from under a federal consent decree, reshaped its pursuit policy and saw its image marred by the recent May Day immigration-rights demonstration in which riot-clad officers were caught on tape assaulting demonstrators and shooting foam bullets into crowds.

Not one to back away from a fight, Baker condemned officials who criticized police actions and used the union's monthly magazine Thin Blue Line to rail against what many officers felt was a rush to judgment. But with the help of Bratton, who has stressed more open communication with labor, Baker created a stronger working relationship between top brass and the union.

Despite the union's opposition to the punishment of two officers involved in the beating of a convicted car thief with metal flashlights, Baker and others worked with the department to redesign flashlights officers use on duty.

"(Baker) opened up communication between management and rank and file," said former LAPD officer and City Councilman Dennis Zine. "You didn't have the battling nature that was once the reputation of the protective league."

Baker believes the department is still suffering from low morale after the May Day melee. He also feels a federal consent decree requirement forcing officers to reveal personal financial information is unfair. Under the decree, gang officers must disclose all their financial transactions, including those of their spouses.

The league argues that the disclosure puts officers in danger, while civil rights activists say that it ensures there is no corruption.

"Everyone wants to strive for best police practices but there is a lot in the consent decree that doesn't help anyone do anything," Baker said.

[e-mail]

[phone]