COMMUNITIES DISCUSS TEEN'S SHOOTING FORUMS TALK ABOUT IMPACT OF 13-YEAR-OLD'S DEATH.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

From the heart of the San Fernando Valley to South Los Angeles, residents gathered in small groups on Saturday to talk about the police shooting of 13-year-old Devin Brown three weeks ago and its potential impact on the community.

The Days of Dialogue, a tradition born out of the turmoil of the Rodney King riots that tore the city apart a decade ago, were held at fire stations, libraries and community centers across the city.

The discussions come against a backdrop of the mayoral election on March 8 and how the key constituency of African-Americans will vote.

``This is not about the election,'' Mayor James Hahn said after leaving Fire Station 57 on South Vermont Avenue, where about a dozen people met to talk with him, Police Chief Bill Bratton, Fire Chief Bill Bamattre and Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles.

``This is about listening to people, to hear their concerns and discuss what we are doing.''

Also joining Hahn was author Walter Mosely, who has written several novels based in South Central Los Angeles, and who posed the question of fairness.

``This is about making sure that people are treated the same,'' Mosely said. ``Just because an area is violent or has gangs, it is no reason to assume everyone who is stopped is violent or a gang member. If you create an area of lawlessness or no respect, there will be no respect for the law.''

Members of the discussion group disagreed over the level of responsibility of those involved, from the youth's recently widowed mother to members of the Los Angeles Police Department.

``I don't think you can blame the police for everything,'' said Felix Rucker, a Los Angeles resident. ``I think we have to look to where the parents were. Why was this young man out so late at night?''

Others, however, said the issue of concern to them is the fact the youth had been shot so many times, even though he was in a stolen car.

At a Pacoima session, a dozen participants largely spoke about parenting, after-school programs and the larger problem of violence, as well as airing some of their own grievances.

``There are a number of kids that I work with who don't have trust,'' said Shane Coleman, who runs a youth program in Pacoima. ``When they see what happened to (Devin Brown), it's further confirmation that (police) are not as straight as they should be or appear to be.''

``People are mad because we see this happen every day on television,'' said a 20-year-old Pacoima resident who wanted to remain unnamed. ``If you have a shaved head and look like a gangster, the (police) assume you are affiliated and treat you like it.''

The Police Commission last week adopted a new policy on use of force that prohibits officers from shooting into moving vehicles, as happened in the Devin Brown case, unless there is a threat to an officer.

While Hahn said the upcoming election should not play a role in the Days of Dialogue, he reminded the group that he was born and raised in South Central and was familiar with many of its problems and issues.

The mayor alienated some African-American leaders because of his decision not to reappoint Bernard Parks as police chief. Parks, who now serves on the City Council, is one of Hahn's main challengers in the election. Parks started a new campaign ad on Saturday, as did another candidate, former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg.

The candidates also fanned out across the city Saturday to try to energize their voters.

Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, who lost to Hahn four years ago, complained of the perception that his campaign has yet to generate the excitement of 2001.

``What I tell people is that four years ago we peaked on primary election night,'' Villaraigosa told the crowd of more than 200 meeting at a Westside parking lot. ``I tell them this is an Olympics. We are sprinting toward the primary, but have to be ready for the big race.''

Parks, Hertzberg and state Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Van Nuys, also participated in a forum at the African-American Museum sponsored by the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper.

Alarcon, also, launched a bus tour across the Valley to appeal to voters, promising to work on providing more affordable and working class housing, close Sunshine Canyon landfill in Granada Hills and make city government more open by giving more power to neighborhood councils.

Staff Writer Rachel Uranga contributed to this report.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com