COUNCIL ENDORSES HIGHER SALARY FOR POLICE COMMISSION DIRECTOR.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

The Los Angeles City Council voted preliminary approval Wednesday to raise the salary for the Police Commission's executive director 24 percent to better reflect the importance of the position in helping the panel provide civilian oversight of the LAPD.

The council voted 11-2, with members Jackie Goldberg and Rita Walters dissenting, to raise the salary for Executive Director Joe Gunn from $92,937 to $115,466. A final vote will be held next week.

``It's important because the Christopher Commission had recommended that the executive director have the status of a deputy chief, which has a salary of $145,000,'' said Police Commission President Edith Perez.

``When the City Council voted against that, we wanted to make sure that this was still recognized as a very important position.''

Goldberg was concerned that Gunn would be paid more than Police Commission Inspector General Katherine Mader.

Goldberg said she is concerned about whether Mader can act independently if she is subordinate to Gunn.

As a deputy mayor, Gunn was instrumental in the selection of Bernard Parks as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. Gunn and Parks forged close ties when Gunn served as a police lieutenant.