BRATTON MOVING FORWARD LAPD CHIEF OPTIMISTIC AFTER THREE YEARS IN CITY.

Byline: Dan Laidman Staff Writer

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, William Bratton built a reputation as one of the nation's top crime fighters by reforming a succession of East Coast police departments.

As Bratton moved up, he moved on, helming agencies for a few years before ascending to higher-profile jobs. Now, though, on the third anniversary of his appointment as the 54th chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, he is already saying he plans to seek another five-year term in 2007.

``I think I've got a much better understanding of the city and how it works and how it doesn't work after three years,'' he said. ``Part of the interest in seeking a second term is a reflection of enjoying living here.''

Another part is Bratton's desire to see the LAPD through a period of transition. He would like to put his stamp on the department of Jack Webb and William Parker as it emerges from the trauma of Rodney King and Rampart.

``The process of change will continue,'' he said.

The first three years of Bratton's stewardship have drawn high marks from nearly all quarters of the city. The union representing rank and file officers has mostly positive things to say about the chief, as do the civil libertarians who monitor the LAPD for the American Civil Liberties Union.

Perhaps most importantly, the chief has a close ally in the man who will decide whether to keep him.

``I have a great relationship with Chief Bratton,'' Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told the Daily News last week. ``He's done everything he said he would. He's helped to reduce crime significantly without a lot of resources.''

The question of resources presents one of the major challenges for the remainder of Bratton's term. The chief wants to add a significant number of officers but the LAPD is struggling to find qualified candidates.

Another looming challenge is a summer 2006 deadline for the department to comply with the federal consent decree governing its conduct. The chief is hoping for a modified plan, an acknowledgment that a crucial computer system for tracking patterns of misconduct will not be ready in time.

``By all accounts, Bratton has done an excellent job in revitalizing the department, lifting morale, overseeing drops in the crime rate and restoring, in part, credibility and trust in the LAPD in all parts of the city,'' said Merrick Bobb, head of the Police Assessment Resource Center and an official monitor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

``His challenges include completion of the consent decree, construction of an early warning and tracking system, and raising the number of sworn police officers to an acceptable level.''

Bratton has overseen drops in practically every category of crime. Homicides are down 27.9 percent since his appointment, rapes down 22.6 percent and robberies down 23.7 percent.

Such numbers have established daunting expectations for the future, but Bratton does not fear becoming a victim of his own success.

``I think the New York experience has clearly shown there's no sense trying to predict how low can you go,'' he said, adding that ``arguably New York has more resources to focus on the problem.''

Asked about the possibility of continued crime reductions, Villaraigosa also turned to the question of resources.

``I think at some point we're going to have to add the police officers we need to keep the city safe and reduce crime even further,'' he said.

Such a situation could lead to a repeat of a 2003 clash between Bratton and the council over funding for more police.

City Councilman Jack Weiss, chairman of the council's Public Safety Committee, said that such policy differences have been overblown. However, he said Bratton's success is due to factors beyond money.

``He's shown how in government it's not just resources that make the difference, it's philosophy, it's message, it's management and it's whom you appoint to leadership positions,'' he said.

As an example, Weiss cited Michel Moore, the recently appointed head of the LAPD's Valley Bureau.

``Not that long ago Mike was just a commander in the Valley but he was very strong and Bratton deep-selected him, promoted him all the way up to deputy chief and has given him big assignments,'' Weiss said. ``That's how you make a difference in an organization like that.''

Another reason Bratton is interested in seeking a second term is that a wave of retirements will likely give him a chance to re-shape the LAPD's leadership in 2007.

``I'm basically handpicking all the people who are getting into the line of succession so in 2007 most of the people who are deputy chiefs and captains of this department will have been selected by me not once but twice,'' he said. ``They are people I believe share my values and my sense of change.''

Filling positions remains a challenge, however, as the LAPD faces a tight job market and stiff competition from other agencies. It has also fallen behind in recruiting African-American officers, a fact Bratton acknowledged may be tied to the LAPD's historically poor relationship with that community.

Bratton has strengthened ties with African-American community leaders and tried to step up minority recruiting. Some, though, would like to see him do more to improve race relations.

Ricardo Garcia, criminal justice director for the ACLU of Southern California, credits Bratton with adjusting LAPD policy on the use of flashlights as weapons and shooting at vehicles.

However, Garcia notes that such changes came only after high-profile use-of-force incidents involving African-Americans.

``It would be good to see that kind of change in policies and procedures without major incidents,'' he said.

Garcia would also like the LAPD to ``be forward thinking'' in addressing concerns about racial profiling by analyzing data on traffic stops beyond what is required under the consent decree.

Addressing such community concerns has at times put Bratton in a bind. When he fired Officer John Hatfield for his role in the flashlight beating of Stanley Miller, the chief was hailed by civil rights leader-turned-Police Commission President John Mack as a progressive reformer.

A column in the Los Angeles Police Protective League newsletter, though, called Hatfield ``a political human sacrifice.''

``There will always be differences of opinion,'' Bratton said.

Bob Baker, president of the protective league, which represents rank and file officers and some supervisors, echoed the sentiment.

``While we know we will not always agree with Chief Bratton on his decisions or views, and we do not expect that he will always be in agreement with the officers union, during the last three years he has shown the willingness to hear our views and weigh our positions on a variety of issues,'' he said.

Dan Laidman, [phone]

dan.laidman(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) LAPD Chief William Bratton marks his third year.

(2) Los Angeles Police Department Chief William Bratton meets new police recruits on Friday in Hollywood. Recruiting has been a challenge as the department seeks qualified candidates.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer