COMMUNITY POLICING KEY FOR NEW CHIEF.

Byline: Page Miller Local View

THE community now has a chance to weigh in on the selection process for the next chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department.

History has a tendency to repeat itself if we forget. Let's move on, but implement the knowledge learned from our past mistakes.

What do we need in our next chief of police?

We need a chief who supports community policing. It's pretty safe to say the next chief of police will embrace community policing and he or she will not even think about removing senior lead officers.

We must build community policing upon that consistent foundation.

After 4 1/2 years of a citywide grass-roots campaign to bring senior lead officers and community policing back to Los Angeles, a wise chief will build upon this already established united front of Neighborhood and Business Watch and community members.

A new chief will make certain that the LAPD's formalized administrative order is word-for-word supportive of an effective reinstatement of SLOs. Who knows, maybe we'll see Operation Sparkle return citywide.

We need a chief who has a history of fiscal responsibility. The chief oversees an annual budget of approximately $1 billion.

We need a chief who will unite the community. Puppets of former Chief Bernard C. Parks need not apply. We don't need someone pulling strings from behind the curtain dividing us once again.

We need a chief who passes a thorough background check. We do not need a chief who brings a questionable cast of characters with him/her and/or a history of unwise decisions.

We need a chief who is firm, but fair. A chief who will guide with integrity and compassion, but who will have a discipline system that can be applied to, and understood by all. The Police Commission has already formed a working group to clarify and improve the discipline process.

We need a chief who will promote based on merit and not the ``wink- and-nod'' method.

We need a chief who is beholden to the community for public safety. Now, this would seem to be a no-brainer, but in a world of politics and bureaucracy everyone with their own racial, religious, political or financial agenda tries to own the office of the chief.

We need a chief who acknowledges and seeks to repair the tremendous disconnect between LAPD command staff and rank and file, Police Commission, political offices and the community.

We need a chief who can handle the international stage and spotlight that often goes with the high profile of the LAPD.

We need a chief who possesses a positive mentality. One who supports an outstanding police force, but is open to new ideas and input from other departments. Confidence is a necessity. Arrogance is a hindrance to progress.

We need a chief who leads by inspiration, not fear and intimidation. Someone who when it comes to public safety is not playing ``my ego is bigger than yours.''

Pretty heady stuff. We need someone with a good grasp of reality. A combination of a paramilitary leader, educator, accountant, disciplinarian, therapist, media personality and dare I say, ``morale bunny.''

All this while implementing the consent decree.

Realistically we want someone with common sense and a vision for the future. In short, we're probably looking for superman or -woman. Cape and X-ray vision optional.

And finally we need a chief who understands basic real numbers. Fivemeans five - as in a five-year contract. Five does not automatically mean 10.

To our future chief once selected, I would suggest the following:

Reimplement an effective gang unit.

Listen to your rank and file - some of the best ideas for streamlining and improving effectiveness may come from your force of sworn officers.

The chief and upper command staff, including captains, must periodically ride as full partners with lower-ranking officers.

Present accurate data (no matter how difficult it may be) and communicate effectively with the Police Commission, political offices and community. The five civilian members of the Police Commission cannot make intelligent decisions if they are not given honest information.

Read ``LAbyrinth'' by Randall Sullivan. The officers and leaders written about in that book are not what the citizens of Los Angeles deserve.

Oh, and chief - welcome and good luck.