COMMISSION, CHIEF MEET IN PRIVATE IN PUBLIC SESSION, WATERS BRINGS UP REPORTED INSULT.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Police Commission met for a second day Tuesday with Police Chief Bernard C. Parks on his request for reappointment, while controversy continued to swirl outside the closed-door session.

During the four-hour meeting, Parks detailed his accomplishments over the past five years and his goals for the next five, should he win a second term. A decision is expected sometime next week.

Meanwhile, controversy continued to swirl around why the commission refused Parks' request to open up the meetings with him and a remark reportedly made by Police Commission President Rick Caruso about Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles.

Waters confronted Caruso during the public comment portion of Tuesday's Police Commission meeting, saying she wanted ``to see if you're man enough to say to my face what you said behind my back.''

Caruso did not respond to Waters' comments. Previously in the meeting, he told a member of the public that the state's open meeting laws prohibit commission members from discussing issues not on the agenda.

According to an anonymous source, Caruso had referred to Waters as ``a b----'' in a private conversation with four officers. He has refused to confirm or deny the remark.

In another development, the City Attorney's Office asked the commission to clarify its decision to hold all meetings on Parks behind closed doors.

On Monday, the commission said its decision was based on legal advice from the City Attorney's Office.

But on Tuesday, Chief Municipal Counsel Patricia Tubert said she had told the panel it could meet in public to discuss issues involving Parks, but not any other employees.

Tubert said she did not recommend that the entire process be held behind closed doors, but that it was up to the commission to decide.

Parks and Mayor James Hahn criticized a few community leaders who warned that the controversy over the chief might lead to civil disturbances. Hahn also continued to defend his opposition to Parks, saying on KTLA-TV (Channel 5) that he had tried working with the chief since taking office in July.

``I kept an open mind,'' Hahn said. ``Even before taking office I met with the chief and told him of my concern with rising crime, that I wanted a flexible work schedule for officers and a return of the senior lead officers. I came to the conclusion we could not work together.''

The decision by Hahn has raised protests within the African-American community, which has rallied behind Parks.

After confronting Caruso, Waters told the City Council she had been called worse things in her life, but she believed it was inappropriate for Caruso to remain on the Police Commission when he used language for which an officer would be disciplined.

``How can he discipline officers for this when he is not disciplined?'' Waters said.

Councilwoman Jan Perry had wanted the four officers who had met with Caruso to testify before the council about the alleged remark but was overruled by her colleagues.

Councilwoman Ruth Galanter said it would be difficult for the council to take action about a remark made during a private conversation.

``We have in this country a thing called free speech,'' Galanter said. ``I'm not sure what we could do in any case.''

One of the officers involved in the conversation with Caruso, Cmdr. Paul Kim, attended the council meeting. However, on the advice of his attorney, he refused to comment.