KROEKER PARTY DRAWS LAPD INVESTIGATION.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

LAPD internal-affairs investigators are looking into allegations that South Bureau officers improperly held a going-away party on city time for Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker, who is a candidate for the chief's job.

Kroeker, who was recently promoted from head of the South Bureau to head of the Office of Administrative Services, dismissed the allegations made in an anonymous letter, saying they are unfounded and part of a smear campaign to hurt his chances to become chief.

``Somebody wrote a letter to the department saying this horrible thing is going on where we're using city funds for a party,'' Kroeker said. ``It's the season for misinterpreting things. It's the campaign season.''

About 100 Los Angeles Police Department officers and community leaders attended the May 29 event outside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to eat hot dogs and cake, trade certificates of appreciation and honor Kroeker for his service in the South Bureau.

Kroeker defended the fact that officers made calls to community leaders to arrange the event and then attended the function. The deputy chief said he sees such events as helpful in establishing better relations between the department and the public and consistent with the LAPD's move to community-based policing.

Kroeker said similar functions are routinely held when a deputy chief or other command officer leaves a post after a long period of service.

``We looked at it and it was proper,'' he said.

Kroeker said interim Police Chief Bayan Lewis told him Internal Affairs Division detectives are looking into the allegations but that a formal personnel complaint has not been filed.

``Internal Affairs is doing some interviews to see what went on,'' Kroeker said. ``I'm pleased they are doing it, so nobody can say there's any stonewalling.''

He and other LAPD officials said they are not surprised that allegations are starting to fly as several of the department's top command officers vie for the coveted job of heading the department.

Said one high-level department official about the allegations, ``It's politics.''

Kroeker would not say who he believes is stirring up trouble. He and Deputy Chief Bernard Parks are believed to be the front-runners in the race to succeed Police Chief Willie L. Williams.

Parks and Kroeker were recently promoted by Lewis as part of a shake-up that has left some top command officers angry.

Kroeker took the place of Assistant Chief Frank Piersol, who was demoted to head the office that oversees the Internal Affairs Division.

Piersol said he could not confirm or deny that an investigation is taking place.

``I wouldn't be able to discuss it,'' he said.