COUNCIL DELAYS VOTE TO CALL IN PANEL : CHIEF'S BACKERS FEAR LACK OF SUPPORT.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

Lacking enough votes Tuesday, supporters of LAPD Chief Willie L. Williams asked the City Council to delay its vote until today on whether the Police Commission should be summoned to explain its decision denying the chief a second term.

Although Williams' supporters voiced doubts the motion will get the 10 votes needed by Friday's deadline, they pressed their attack for more than an hour on the commissioners themselves during their regular meeting Tuesday.

``What you have done by this action is to strip the chief of his dignity,'' said Councilwoman Rita Walters, one of 50 people who attended the meeting.

``We think you are hiding behind the law,'' added Danny Bakewell, president of the Brotherhood Crusade, who joined others in calling for the commission to explain its decision to the council.

However, the commission has not volunteered to appear before the council and a motion by Walters to invite them to meet with the council appears headed for defeat.

Most of the 15 council members say they are opposed to assuming jurisdiction from the commission and seeking to overturn the decision on the chief.

The motion was scheduled for a vote Tuesday, but Walters asked for a one-day delay to provide more time to lobby colleagues.

``I continued it in the hope we can line up additional votes,'' Walters said. ``I don't have the votes I need today.''

Walters, meanwhile, joined several council members Tuesday in saying they would support some kind of financial severance package for the chief, who has told some council members he is willing to leave before the July 6 end of his term if he receives fair compensation.

``Certainly, if that issue comes before me I would support it because he's been treated like dirt,'' Walters said.

The chief met Tuesday with the commission and offered to cooperate in the transition but did not commit to leaving early.

``We're still waiting to see what he wants to do,'' commission President Ray Fisher said. ``We will talk next week with the chief once this (council action) is resolved.''

Council members Laura Chick and Richard Alarcon also said they might support a severance package.

City officials say proposals for severance packages range from $60,000 to $850,000, although the higher amount is unlikely to get the support it needs from the council.

Chick said that with the issue of the council's intervention in the commission's decision still pending, no formal proposal for a severance package has been submitted to her by any colleague.

``There are informal discussions going on in City Hall of people checking out where other people are coming from,'' Chick said.

Williams has threatened to sue the city if he is not reappointed, but has told council members privately he does not want to file a lawsuit and is open to a financial severance proposal to resolve the issue.

``My hand could not put a signature on a check like that,'' Chick said. Council President John Ferraro and Councilman Richard Alatorre said they want it settled that the City Council will not overturn the Police Commission before they are willing to consider a severance deal.