PANEL BACKS CHIEF'S DECISION : 2 COMMANDERS FACE DEMOTION.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer Police Commission president Ray Fisher Ray Lyle Fisher (October 4 1887 in Middlebury, Vermont -November 3 1982 in Ann Arbor, Michigan) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. His debut game took place on July 2, 1910. His final game took place on October 2, 1920. said Monday the commission will support interim Chief Bayan Lewis' decision to demote de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. two top commanders. ``We've got a very competent interim chief,'' Fisher said. ``The commission will be entrusting Chief Lewis to make the management decisions. We have confidence in him.'' Lewis, who will succeed Police Chief Willie L. Williams Willie L. Williams (born 1 October, 1943) was chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from 1992 to 1997, taking over after chief Daryl Gates' resignation following the 1992 Los Angeles riots. as interim chief beginning Sunday, met privately earlier this month with Assistant Chiefs Ronald Banks and Frank Piersol to tell them that they would be demoted. Banks, a 31-year veteran, is the department's second-in-command who serves as Williams' chief of staff. Piersol, a 32-year veteran, oversees the department's office of administrative services. Concerned about his threatened demotion de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. , Banks met Monday with Fisher and Commissioner T. Warren Jackson. He said they told him they will allow Lewis to have broad discretion to reorganize re·or·gan·ize v. re·or·gan·ized, re·or·gan·iz·ing, re·or·gan·iz·es v.tr. To organize again or anew. v.intr. To undergo or effect changes in organization. the top staff. ``The commissioners gave me an indication that the entire matter is in the hands of the interim chief when he takes over,'' Banks said. At the same time, Banks and Piersol say they are working with Lewis to determine if the pair can be allowed to maintain their salaries, and therefore preserve their pension levels, if he decides to demote them. ``Our position (to maintain pay) has been put on the table,'' Piersol said. ``Our position has been expressed to the chief and the assistant chief. Their reaction was not negative.'' Piersol said that if demoted, both he and Banks would be forced to consider retirement rather than see a cut in pay erode Erode (ĕrōd`), city (1991 urban agglomeration pop. 361,755), Tamil Nadu state, S India, on the Kaveri River. The city is located in a cotton-growing region, and its industries include cotton ginning and the manufacture of transport equipment. their pension benefits. Some top command staff members have been looking forward to staying on the force at least through July 1, 1998, when a pay increase and boost in medical benefits for pensioners kick in. Piersol cited the precedent set by a City Council vote three years ago to give Bernard Parks a pay increase even though he was being demoted by Williams from assistant to deputy chief. The council could approve an ordinance A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a Municipal Corporation. An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government. A municipality, such as a city, town, village, or borough, is a political subdivision of a state within which a municipal corporation has been to maintain the pay levels of those demoted during the current transition, said Piersol, who called the proposal ``fair and viable.'' Lewis declined comment, except to say he has planned a reorganization of the command staff that is ``as small as possible'' and will brief the Police Commission on his proposal today. Some council members said they might support an effort to maintain the salaries of top commanders threatened with demotion. ``I don't want them to slap these guys in the face,'' said Councilman Nate Holden Nathaniel "Nate" R. Holden (1929-) served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1987 to 2002. He previously served a term on the California State Senate and was Assistant Chief Deputy to then Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. . ``These guys have been around for 30 years. If they don't treat them fairly, anything is possible.'' Councilwoman Laura Chick said she plans to call Fisher to make sure veteran officers are being treated fairly. In his meeting Monday, Banks said he talked with commissioners about the grievance griev·ance n. 1. a. An actual or supposed circumstance regarded as just cause for complaint. b. A complaint or protestation based on such a circumstance. See Synonyms at injustice. 2. he filed after he was excluded by the commission from the list of five finalists competing to become interim chief. Fisher declined to say what he will recommend on the grievance, but he defended the selection process for the interim chief as fair and proper. Banks said the commissioners answered some of his concerns. ``It was a very cordial cordial: see liqueur. meeting,'' Banks said. ``In terms of the grievance, some things were clarified.'' |
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