BRIEFLY CHIEF'S RAISE LESS THAN MAYOR URGED.

The Los Angeles Police Commission approved a raise Tuesday for Police Chief Bernard C. Parks - but not as big as the one Mayor Richard Riordan mistakenly awarded him earlier this month.

The commission approved a raise of 1 percent instead of the 3 percent Riordan's office awarded in December.

In a preliminary estimate, Police Commission spokeswoman Tammy Catania said the chief's pay will be about $247,312.

Catania said the commission had the option of approving a raise in the range of zero to 3 percent.

Riordan last week rescinded the raise he had recently given Parks after his staff discovered that under the new City Charter, which the mayor backed, only the Police Commission is authorized to hike the chief's salary.

- City News Service

Lawyer to head city police panel

The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday elected attorney Raquelle de la Rocha as its president.

De La Rocha, 42, had been acting president of the five-member panel after Mayor Richard Riordan fired Gerald Chaleff in what the mayor described as an effort to bring in fresh leadership.

De La Rocha is an attorney at the law firm of Ballard, Rosenberg & Golper, specializing in labor and employment laws. Before serving on the Police Commission, she served on the city Ethics Commission and on the state Fair Political Practices Commission.

This week, Riordan named Rebecca Avila, former executive director of the city Ethics Commission, to take the fifth seat on the Police Commission.

- Daily News

Man killed wife, self, police say

OXNARD - A 72-year-old man fatally shot his 45-year-old wife before committing suicide, officials said Tuesday.

Terry Riley and Mary Riley each died Monday of a single gunshot wound to the head, officials said.

The bodies were found about 6:30 p.m. Monday by the couple's sons, 12 and 14, when the boys returned to their Isle Way home, officials said. The boys were placed in the custody of their 25-year-old sister.

- Daily News

Building may be named for Corman

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to give quick approval today to a bill that would name the Van Nuys federal building in honor of the late Democratic Rep. James C. Corman, who died Jan. 2 at age 80.

Rep. Howard Berman, D-Mission Hills, the bill's author, called Corman a talented and principled member of Congress and noted that he was instrumental in gaining approval for construction of the federal building at 6230 Van Nuys Blvd. in the 1970s.

Before it was built, San Fernando Valley residents had to travel to downtown Los Angeles to conduct any business with federal agencies.

Corman represented the Valley in Congress from 1960 to 1980 and played a key role in passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

- Daily News