EDITORIAL FUELING DISCONTENT BUNGLING OF CHIEF PARKS' REAPPOINTMENT DAMAGES CITY HALL'S CREDIBILITY.

MAYOR James Hahn promised the decision on a second term for Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks would be made ``on the merits'' - even though we soon learned his mind was already made up.

Now his hand-picked Police Commission is continuing to bungle this sensitive issue by refusing to grant Parks' request for a public interview.

Parks, who has received the highest marks on performance reviews throughout his tenure as chief, had asked that the process be made open to the public. He was willing to waive his own privacy claims in order to obtain as fair a hearing as possible, as well as to include average Angelenos in a decision that directly affects their very quality of life.

But the commission rejected the offer, slamming the door on a much- needed public dialogue that would have been the only way to ensure that Parks was treated fairly.

The official explanation for the commission's secrecy was the need to protect the confidentiality of other officers whose names, promotions and discipline records might come up during the hearings. It cited the advice of a top aide to City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, who had briefed the panel on legal issues (also behind closed doors).

But now we learn that was a gross distortion of the city attorney's advice. In fact, the commission was told it could indeed hear Parks' case of reappointment in public and question him in public as long as a few, narrow, confidential matters were kept discreet for private discussions.

There is no good reason whatsoever for the commission's secrecy. In fact, it only fuels the skepticism and discontent that rages across the city.

What are they hiding? Are their minds already made up despite their protestations they haven't prejudged the issue? Does anyone really think Parks stands a chance of getting reappointed?

Fair or not, absent the light of public scrutiny, the Parks affair will haunt the city for years to come.

In the wake of the Rodney King riots, voters did away with the practice of keeping police chiefs for life and the abuses that came with an all- powerful chief. However, there was concern city leaders would take advantage of the situation and politicize the position of chief.

It's taken only a decade for the scene to be set for the office of chief of police to be corrupted by the selfish political interests that already wield too much power at City Hall.

If Parks is not fit to be chief for five more years, the commission ought to have the courage of its convictions and confront the elaborate evidence he offers in support of his candidacy.

Evidence like glowing annual reviews with high marks from the Police Commission that now sits in judgment.

Evidence of his efforts to restore discipline to a department after the Rodney King scandal and the ineptitude of Willie Williams.

Evidence of carrying out reforms that the past 10 years of mayors, city councils and city attorneys failed to see through.

Parks has offered a case on why he's done the job well and deserves a second term. The public has a right - a need - to know what the case is against him.

Secret hearings and one-line summations will do nothing to restore confidence in this process or in the leadership of the city. And they'll do nothing to quiet the growing discontent among the people.