CITY COUNCIL LIKELY TO HEAR CASE.

Byline: Dennis Love and Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writers

LAPD Chief Willie L. Williams - whose lack of behind-the-scenes political acumen contributed to his ouster - now must place his fate in the hands of that most political of governmental bodies: the Los Angeles City Council.

The Police Commission's decision Monday not to award Williams a new five-year term can be overturned only by the 15-member council, and only then if Williams can find 10 votes to support his contention that he should be rehired.

``I am not calling on the City Council to do anything, today,'' Williams said Monday. ``The City Council will make up their minds what they'll do. I will be expressing my issues and my concerns, as I have already, to some members of the City Council.''

In the early going, Williams would not appear to have the necessary votes to overturn the Police Commission's decision. At the very least, however, his case will be heard, with Councilwoman Rita Walters indicating she would bring Williams' case before the council, probably next week Wednesday or Friday.

``I'm sure others will join me,'' Walters said. ``The Police Commission has taken their action, now it's the council's turn to review this.''

By law, the council has 10 days to consider the commission's action. Several council members are in Washington for a National League of Cities meeting.

Williams has had success in the past taking his case to the council. In 1995, the Police Commission recommended that Williams be reprimanded for lying to the panel amid an investigation about accepting ``comped'' hotel rooms in Las Vegas.

But the council rejected the reprimand, which infuriated the commission and led to the resignation of its president and another member.

Were 10 council members to vote to reconsider Williams' current case, then the council would meet in closed session to discuss and vote on whether the commission's decision should be ratified or overturned.

Even if that were to occur, Williams - who is said to have maintained a relatively cordial but essentially superficial relationship with the council - likely would come up short, according to several council members.

``I don't count to 10 on this one,'' said 3rd District Councilwoman Laura Chick, who represents the west San Fernando Valley. ``While the council does have the legal right to review commission actions by invoking its powers under Proposition 5, I believe that doing so in this case would set the wrong precedent.''

Nonetheless, an outraged Councilman Nate Holden indicated he will challenge the commission action, saying the commission was used by Mayor Richard Riordan, a Williams opponent.

``The commission choked,'' Holden said. ``It was a dirty trick on the chief and the city of Los Angeles. The commission was used as a scapegoat to do the dirty work. It's an inside job. The main issue is not whether Chief Willie Williams did a good job. They wanted the office vacant so they could appoint their own cronies.''

Walters agreed, saying that she believed it was Riordan who orchestrated the commission's decision, adding she resented his suggestion that Deputy Chief Bernard Parks serve as an interim chief once Williams is gone.

``It's so obvious that he thinks he can ameliorate the feelings in the African-American community by naming an African-American as interim chief,'' Walters said. ``That's not going to do it.''

Other council members like Jackie Goldberg said she was not committed one way or the other but wanted to review the Police Commission criteria.

``I think there might be a role for the council to look at what the commission looked at to come to their conclusion,'' Goldberg said. ``Without that, I'm not sure if I do support or not support the action.

``I do know what Los Angeles was like when he came in and we're in a lot better place than we used to be - particularly in what people think about the Police Department. I certainly don't want to return to those days.''

Still, most council members seemed willing to let the commission decision stand after any council review. ``This is a very diverse, thoughtful group,'' said Councilman Hal Bernson. ``It's up to them to make a decision and I don't want it politicized any more than it has been. If they say we shouldn't renew his contract, I go along with their decision.''

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PHOTO Commission President Raymond Fisher, center, holds a news conference with panel members.

Tina Gerson/Daily News