CARUSO DEFENDS CHOICES CRITICS QUESTION SELECTION OF ONLY OUTSIDERS FOR CHIEF.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

As Mayor James Hahn sought input from community leaders on his selection of a police chief, Police Commission President Rick Caruso on Friday bristled at criticism of the finalists, saying the choice of three outsiders was not a slam on the department's current leadership.

Caruso, speaking at a graduation ceremony for the Police Academy, criticized the media for interpreting the choice of outsiders as a knock on the Los Angeles Police Department.

``Unfortunately, the press has characterized our announcement as being some verdict on the senior leadership of this department,'' Caruso said. ``The men and women of the command staff at the deputy chief ranks and commander ranks are terrific people.''

He added that while he is proud of the deputy chiefs and commanders who had sought the chief's job, ``I'm also proud of the fact that this organization is going to be able to take on new leadership, survive it and be better for it.''

On Thursday, the commission released the names of three finalists for police chief: Oxnard police Chief Art Lopez, a former LAPD deputy chief; William Bratton, former police commissioner in New York and Boston; and John Timoney, former police commissioner of Philadelphia.

Critics, including police union officials, civic activists, some department insiders and secessionists, complained that the short list included none of the six LAPD insiders who were among the 13 semifinalists.

LAPD Deputy Chief David Gascon, one of those not chosen, said it was embarrassing to the department's current leadership.

``I think we are embarrassed as a group to think that we're deficient when viewed against competitors - we're less than equal with candidates who are outside, who have to overcome the fact that they really don't have a clue what's going on here,'' Gascon said in an interview.

``They're going to have a significant period of time to catch up. Even with that disadvantage, evidently those candidates were superior to those of us in the organization, and that is embarrassing and disappointing.''

Still, he added, he's ready to work with the new chief - assuming that person wants him.

Other insiders who weren't chosen swallowed their pride and disappointment and said they were ready to work with whomever Mayor James Hahn chooses.

``I'm quite disappointed,'' said Deputy Chief David Kalish, who heads the department's West Bureau.

``But I love LAPD. I've dedicated 27 years of my life to this organization. I look forward to continue serving the department. The important thing for those of us who have leadership positions in the department will be to rally the troops, inspire and motivate, to ensure that everybody gets on board.''

Hahn spent Friday making dozens of calls to community leaders to solicit their opinions, according to Deputy Mayor Matt Middlebrook.

Among those he talked with were former U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, who headed the commission that studied LAPD reform after the beating of Rodney King; police union President Mitzi Grasso; state Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson; county Sheriff Lee Baca; City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo; and activists Page Miller, Sandra Munz and William ``Blinky'' Rodriguez.

Hahn, along with City Council President Alex Padilla and Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who chairs the council's Public Safety Committee, plans to interview the three finalists next week, starting with Lopez on Monday and Timoney and Bratton on Tuesday. He expects to pick a chief within a month and forward the name to the City Council for confirmation.

Munz, who with Miller has been active in trying to restore and protect the department's senior lead officer program, said she told the mayor she was surprised the commission picked two East Coast candidates.

``But I definitely will be there to work with any chief the mayor chooses ... and continue to restore community policing,'' Munz said.

Richard Katz, leader of the San Fernando Valley secession drive, said he was concerned about a trend in Los Angeles government to pick East Coast outsiders, including in recent years for the Metropolitan Water District and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as well as the LAPD 10 years ago when the city tapped former Philadelphia Police Chief Willie L. Williams.

``Folks who didn't come from Los Angeles and don't understand the culture and politics of Los Angeles have a very hard time establishing themselves,'' said Katz, a former assemblyman.

``From what I've read in the papers, these are very well-qualified people. But there's a difference between being qualified on paper and being able to break through the culture of LAPD and the politics of Los Angeles.''

Also, Los Angeles Police Protective League officials said Friday they were surprised by the decision but said they will take a close look at the three candidates.

Even a police union official in Philadelphia, Timoney's hometown, suggested the LAPD find someone from its own back yard - although he declined to criticize Timoney directly.

``I always believe you look closer to home especially for a police department,'' said Rich Costello, the president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents 14,000 officers, deputy sheriffs, and county detectives.

``You need somebody who's familiar with the LAPD,'' Costello said. ``I don't believe police departments come out of a cookie-cutter mold. I don't believe that if somebody was a ball of fire in New York that they're going to be a ball of fire in L.A. Only someone inherently familiar with the system can take command of that system.''