LAPD DEPUTY CHIEF TO HEAD DEPARTMENT IN GEORGIA.

Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer

The head of the LAPD's Internal Affairs Division has been named the chief in Savannah, Ga., the second top commander in three months to leave the Los Angeles Police Department.

Deputy Chief Michael Berkow, 51, will become the Savannah chief in mid-November, overseeing 570 officers in the city of 130,000 people. He'll be paid $168,000 annually, compared with the $202,000 he earned in Los Angeles.

Berkow was out of the city on Monday and could not be reached for comment. But an Associated Press story quoted him as saying the salary isn't a factor in making professional decisions.

``In my life, it's never been all about the money,'' said Berkow, who previously served two years as chief of the Irvine Police Department. ``For me, it's about the fit of the community, the fit of the job with my talents and abilities.''

Berkow is the second commander under Chief LAPD Bill Bratton to leave Los Angeles to head his own department. Assistant Chief George Gascon left this summer to become chief in Mesa, Ariz. He was succeeded by Deputy Chief Earl Paysinger.

``This is not uncommon,'' said Councilman Bernard Parks, who served as chief for five years before being replaced by Bratton. ``During my tenure, we had 14 LAPD officers leave to become chiefs in other cities.

``It is a sign of the talent we have here that other cities come to the LAPD to learn how we do things and in hiring our people.''

Councilman Dennis Zine, a retired LAPD sergeant who now chairs the council's Personnel Committee, said Berkow's departure demonstrates the opportunities available in law enforcement.

``With Chief Bratton looking like he's going to get a second term, we have talented people who are going to be pursued for other jobs,'' Zine said. ``Being a police chief, even in a smaller community, is a big challenge and a big opportunity.''

LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said Bratton encourages his command staff to be open to outside opportunities.

``One of the assets of the department is that the chief wants his people to be open to the possibilities of other opportunities, and the strength of the LAPD is that we have people waiting to move up and take on new responsibilities,'' said Vernon, a department spokesman.

Bratton and the department are preparing for further losses in the coming year, when many will be forced to retire because the five-year extension offered veteran officers is expiring.

``That's one of the things we need to emphasize as we recruit officers,'' Zine said. ``We have opportunities for advancement in a department that offers training and experience unlike any other police department in the city. It prepares you for everything.''

No successor has been named for Berkow, who oversees the division that handles ethics and anti-corruption inquiries against officers. He has has been responsible for a number of sensitive investigations, including the slaying of Devin Brown, a 13-year-old who was shot and killed by officers during a car pursuit.

Police Commissioner Alan Skobin said he met with Berkow before the announcement was made and encouraged him to advance his career.

``I think this is the perfect fit for him,'' Skobin said. ``(Savannah) is a city where they have a commitment to policing and providing the funds for police and have an active community policing program going on.''

Unlike Gascon, who indicated he hopes to eventually succeed Bratton, Skobin said he believes Berkow is not looking to return.

``You have to remember that Bratton is widely considered the best chief in America today and when you have that kind of guidance, it's only natural for people to look to move up to other jobs,'' Skobin said.

``And, Bratton has indicated he wants to stay around for five more years and people who want to have their own department are going to look around.''

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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