CHIEF AMONG CITY'S ISSUES : NEXT TOP COP SHOULD BE SOUGHT WITHIN NATION'S FOREMOST DEPARTMENT - OURS.

Byline: Albert Molina

IT'S time for a new chief for LAPD.

We the people of Los Angeles demand the best of the best in our city government departments.

Chief Williams in his leadership has failed where others have succeeded. This shows what happens when you pick a chief from out of town.

Police Departments from other cities and states come to Los Angeles looking for potential chiefs for their agencies. They know that we have the best in the country.

The Los Angeles Police Department is the creme de la creme of police departments in the world - by its size, the quality of officers and the training. First it happens here then it's copied by other police departments.

All this shows up again and again, when you see them in action - like the North Hollywood bank robbery.

We the people of Los Angeles are proud of them.

Our next chief must come from within the Los Angeles Police Department where the top leaders are.

We now have some deceptive characters among our city and community leaders, showing their intelligence by telling us to assess Chief Williams for his goodwill and trying to sway public opinion to his greed.

This is not Racism. But this chief is not of the highest caliber and doesn't have the potential to direct our great police department.

There is a real danger that some citizens will be deceived by these city and community leaders and fall victim to there disinformation campaign on the true value of Williams.

We must be firm in fulfilling the promises of the Christopher Commission and Charter Amendment F to hold Chief Williams accountable for his inability to perform management responsibilities and oversight.

The chief has failed. He butts heads with the mayor, LAPD brass and the police commissioners about his leadership.

LAPD is like a superliner without a rudder. It's lost its course and is trying to find its way.

We must learn from past experience and bring about an equilibrium between injustice and understanding of this problem to the people of Los Angeles.

We have seen the chief's latest attempts to set rules for his missed opportunities: the reported threat to file a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles if he is not reappointed; negotiations with the city for a settlement of $1 million to $3 million if he steps down; and his call to remove the police commission from the evaluation process of deciding his fate.

This is pure greed and extortion.

This is not a chief who will harness the energies of the LAPD to guide them on the right path.

We must wake up and remember the facts. People forget that Williams was hired for a five-year term. Five years, that's it.

We have reached the point of no return. It needs to end.

The LAPD needs a new chief with leadership skills. The people of Los Angeles demand it.

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Photo

Photo: Chief Willie L. Williams was hired for a five-year term. No more.