CONSENT DECREE OPPOSITION ENDS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Backed into a corner by a veto-proof City Council majority, Mayor Richard Riordan and Police Chief Bernard C. Parks gave up their fight Friday against a consent decree that will give federal authorities oversight over the Los Angeles Police Department.

Their surrender was announced in a letter to the City Council signed by Riordan and Parks as well as Council President John Ferraro and Councilman Alex Padilla, who cast their lot with the council majority in supporting the consent decree.

``I think it's very important for the total leadership of the city to be involved in this if we are to give the public confidence,'' Riordan said in an interview. ``On the other side, it's important to show the Department of Justice that the entire leadership of the city is involved with this.''

The letter to the council set out a series of requests for modifications of the lengthy list of Justice Department demands, but whether the council would support them or federal officials accept them was uncertain.

Federal officials - who have given the city an ultimatum to agree to the consent decree or face a lawsuit alleging a ``pattern and practice'' of civil rights violations - responded positively to the development.

``We are pleased with these developments, and we look forward to continuing to work expeditiously toward a final agreement,'' Bill Lann Lee, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said in a statement. Lee, a former Los Angeles civil rights attorney, led the effort for the consent decree.

The council is scheduled to review the proposed agreement at a special meeting on Monday, when it will direct its negotiators to proceed.

A source close to the mayor, asking not to be identified, said it was a bitter dose of political reality for Riordan when it became apparent he would not be able to sustain a veto with the council lined up 11-4 to approve the settlement.

``At the most, the mayor had four votes, and he needed six,'' the official said. ``And even the four were soft.''

The letter spells out specific changes the officials want to see in the agreement. They are:

--The federal monitor's role would be limited both in power and budget and not be considered either a special prosecutor or special master, with the Department of Justice responsible for any enforcement action.

--Limit paperwork requirements for LAPD field officers despite the requirement to provide data on racial profiling.

--Develop a realistic implementation schedule, particularly for the computerized tracking system for problem officers.

--Make the decree in effect for a set period of time unless the city is not in substantial compliance.

--Allow for unforeseen circumstances.

The final agreement came during a Friday afternoon meeting at the Hancock Park home of Ferraro, who has been ill for several months, with the four officials and aides in attendance.

The mayor is scheduled to meet on Monday with Attorney General Janet Reno to try to persuade her to accept the changes.

Riordan said he recognized he will be accused of a flip-flop in his position - he had steadfastly opposed a consent decree since it was first threatened in May - but he saw no other options.

``You have to play with the cards dealt to you,'' Riordan said. ``And, I am still worried about the impact of this on the department and on the city. That's why we're asking that a lot of the onerous things in this that would make it difficult to run the department be taken out.

``This has been a tough decision for me. I keep searching in my mind for what else we could do, and I keep coming up against a blank wall.''

LAPD spokesman Cmdr. David Kalish said Parks also recognized the City Council was prepared to approve the proposal.

``The majority of the City Council has decided to move ahead, and the department is committed to agreeing to any final agreement that is made,'' Kalish said.

The development came after a testy week of behind-the-scenes negotiations involving Riordan, Ferraro and Padilla. The two council members - one the most senior member, the other its youngest - had been considered in the undecided camp.

Padilla said he agreed to the new proposal only after the meetings and a review of the document.

``It was a tough decision,'' Padilla said. ``I weighed heavily the history of police reform in this city - particularly in the last decade. I do think we know what the reforms need to be, and we need the accountability that a legal agreement with the federal authorities brings.''

Padilla said he had extensive talks with Riordan and Ferraro during the week as well as with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

``She provided a different perspective, both as a federal official and as a former mayor,'' Padilla said. He refused to describe Feinstein's position or her comments regarding the consent decree.

For Ferraro, who has been recuperating from surgery, the decision also was difficult because of his number of years as a council member as well as having served as a police commissioner.

``One of my concerns was that our police department should be improved and reformed so that something like Rampart never happens again,'' Ferraro said in a statement. ``But I cannot support turning over the operation of the LAPD to the Department of Justice.

``Another unhappy prospect was a divisive struggle between the council and the mayor in the event of a veto.''

Ferraro said he believes the proposal being put forward will limit the federal government's role and can be in the best interest of the city.

The civil rights division of the Department of Justice first threatened its suit last May, using information gathered by the LAPD as part of its review of the Rampart Division corruption case, where officers were accused of assaulting suspects, planting evidence and lying in court.

Negotiations have been under way in private since then, with the details emerging only this week.

And despite the change by Riordan and Parks, some city officials continued to remain opposed to the consent decree.

Councilman Nate Holden issued a statement saying he doesn't believe it is needed.

``Chief Parks has done everything they're asking,'' Holden said. ``He's cleaning the department, firing bad cops, disciplining others. He's identified problems and shared them with the Justice Department, yet they're treating him with disrespect and disregard.''