PARKS' LEAD OFFICER POLICY DRAWS FIRE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

An angry Los Angeles City Council challenged Police Chief Bernard C. Parks on Wednesday to prove his decision to eliminate senior lead officers as part of community-based policing improved law enforcement.

On an 11-1 vote, the council gave Parks 30 days to show how eliminating the popular senior lead officer program made the city safer.

``I can tell you right now that I won't vote for any program that eliminates senior lead officers,'' said Councilman Hal Bernson. ``I think this decision is wrong.

``I support Chief Parks and most of what he is doing. But when something is wrong, we should stand up and have the courage to say it is wrong. Eliminating the senior lead officers is wrong.''

The challenge to Parks comes after months of growing complaints from community groups and Neighborhood Watch volunteers who supported the assignment of 170 officers to work directly with local groups.

It also marks a growing confrontation between the council and Parks on police policy issues, including the role of the inspector general.

LAPD Commander Dan Koenig said Parks was attempting to broaden the concept of the senior lead officer program to have more officers involved in taking information from the public, dealing with Neighborhood Watch groups and others.

``We will provide all the information to the council,'' Koenig said. ``We think this new approach will work.''

LAPD Commander Dave Kalish said Parks is trying to institutionalize the job of senior lead officer within the department.

``Rather than have a handful of experts involved, the whole department will be responsible for community-based policing,'' Kalish said. ``The chief sees this as an evolution of community-based policing.''

The senior lead officer program was developed as part of the Christopher Commission reforms, in which a single officer would be designated in an area to deal with the community and serve as a liaison to the Police Department.

Popular program

It proved highly popular and successful around the city, where senior lead officers worked with community police advisory boards and other neighborhood groups.

``The senior lead officer was someone we could contact and advise where problems were developing, whether it was prostitution or gangs,'' said Don Schultz of the Van Nuys Homeowners Association.

Page Miller of North Hollywood, who recently organized a vigil for the program, said that since the SLO program has been dropped, attendance at Neighborhood Watch meetings has declined by 50 percent.

``People looked to the senior lead officers as someone who we could talk to and explain where the problems are,'' Miller said.

Councilwoman Laura Chick, who had chaired the council's Public Safety Committee during the dispute, said she was concerned about the loss of credibility with the public.

``All of us have heard from the community about the loss of the senior lead officers,'' Chick said. ``But we need to know exactly what the department is planning before we consider asking a return to the program.''

Councilman Mike Feuer said he wanted to see specific data on how the change in the program has helped fight crime. ``Otherwise, I think we should scrap this program and return to the senior lead officers.''

Councilman Nate Holden was the only council member who opposed intervening.

``You're acting like a buck private trying to tell a general how to do his job,'' Holden said. ``I support the senior lead officer program, but I also support the chief, and I rely on his judgment on what's best to do.''

Rebuilding support

But others said they worried that after years of building up public trust through the senior lead officer program that it will be difficult to rebuild that support.

Northeast San Fernando Valley Councilman Alex Padilla said he will be pressing to continue the program and have the officers work with neighborhood councils.

``I live in an area that has been the victim of underpolicing,'' Padilla said. ``I know what it's like. I also know what a difference senior lead officers made when they came to the community.''