CELL PHONES LINK OFFICERS WITH AREA CRITICS WANT FULL PROGRAM BACK.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

With a grudging acknowledgment of the public pressure that has built over the past several months, the Los Angeles Police Department on Thursday announced the partial return of its popular senior lead officer program.

But the announcement did not silence critics, who pledged to continue to push for the full return of the program, which was designed as an initial and integral part of community-based policing efforts developed after the 1991 police beating of African-American motorist Rodney King and the 1992 riots that followed the officers' acquittal in state court.

Mayor Richard Riordan and Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, however, described the effort as maintaining the contacts of the senior lead officers with the community and recognizing community pressure.

``I have three words to the people of Los Angeles: We hear you,'' Riordan said at the Parker Center news conference where officials announced the donation of 233 cellular telephones and free air time for two years. ``This means that senior lead officers will continue to be an integral part of community-based policing, but also help protect the community.''

Parks, who disbanded the program last year to get the 168 senior lead officers back into the field, said he saw the donation of the telephones and air time - which was suggested and worked out by Riordan - as a way to resolve the issue.

``Community-based policing is an evolving program,'' Parks said. ``When I became chief, I was looking at ways to get more officers in the field to provide the training we need and also expand the concept that all officers would be involved in community policing and maintain contacts with the public.''

Under the program, officers from throughout the city were designated as community liaisons and assigned for their shifts to deal with quality-of-life issues such as graffiti, illegal garbage dumping and the like. They also went to numerous public and community meetings and were available to help resolve conflicts.

However, Councilman Joel Wachs said the new program is not enough and he will continue to press the City Council to urge the Police Commission to order the full restoration of senior lead officers.

``We all appreciate getting the phones and free air time, but to say this is bringing back the senior lead officer program is an insult to those officers,'' Wachs said. ``To think a cell phone will replace a human being is ridiculous. It is very upsetting to see them try to pretend this is bringing back the SLOs. It isn't.''

Two community activists from North Hollywood, Page Miller and Sandy Munz, also decried the new effort.

``They're just trying to do some face-saving,'' Miller said. ``This is not a return to the senior lead officer program. Who believes they will be able to do all they used to do while they're riding around in patrol cars?''

Munz said she and Miller were also frustrated at their inability to meet with Parks personally to discuss the matter.

Also critical of the new effort was the Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents uniformed officers.

``This contribution of equipment does not respond to the community's urgent plea to restore senior lead officers who were the police-community coordinators for their division,'' said Protective League Vice President Dennis Zine.

The telephones and free air time, with a value of $500,000, were donated by AT&T Wireless, Ericsson Mobile Phones and the Wireless Foundation of the Los Angeles Police Department.