COUNCIL VOTES TO HIRE OUSTED PANEL HEAD AS UNPAID ADVISER.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

In a rebuke to Mayor Richard Riordan, the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday authorized the hiring of ousted Police Commission President Gerald Chaleff to serve as an unpaid consultant on a federal consent decree.

The 11-1 vote came after nearly an hour of debate and assurances from Chief Legislative Analyst Ron Deaton that Chaleff's advice on selecting a federal monitor would be kept confidential.

Several council members questioned Riordan's commitment to reforming the Police Department - as is required under the pending consent decree that Chaleff helped negotiate - and argued Chaleff's hiring would provide continuity in the process.

``There is ample evidence, beginning in 1993 (with Riordan's election) that reform has not been this administration's top priority,'' said Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said. ``He has been a disruptive force throughout this process.

``Over the past decade, we have been faced with the policies and practices of our Police Department that have been costly beyond what anyone might have anticipated - costly in terms of moral capital, civic pride and public trust.''

Chaleff, a noted criminal defense attorney, was removed by Riordan last week with the mayor saying he believed the LAPD needed a fresh outlook with greater effort made to improve morale and retention and recruitment of officers. Chaleff had been commission president some 18 months and was actively involved in negotiating the consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, a Chaleff friend and ally, proposed to have him serve as a consultant to Deaton in interviewing those who have applied to be the monitor for the federal court.

``(Chaleff) was an important member of the negotiating team and I think it is important he remain involved,'' Miscikowski said.

Chaleff, who said on Tuesday he would not challenge Riordan's removal of him, said he appreciated the opportunity.

``This is not about compensation,'' said Chaleff, who received no money in his role as Police Commission president. ``That's not even an issue. My involvement in this has never been about compensation.''

Riordan spokesman Peter Hidalgo said the mayor had no objection to Chaleff serving as a consultant.

``The mayor has said all along that Gerald Chaleff provided valuable service to the city,'' Hidalgo said.

The lone dissenting vote came from Councilman Rudy Svorinich, who said he believes the city should take advantage of the new Bush administration to get out from the consent decree.

``We approved this because we were told we had no choice,'' Svorinich said. ``Now we have a new administration in Washington and a new attorney general who has questioned the use of consent decrees to force change on municipal police agencies.''

Councilman Hal Bernson also has continued to question the consent decree but was persuaded to back the hiring of Chaleff after he was assured the federal courts could not force any changes on the city.