PARKS SUPPORTS TERROR UNIT, ADDRESSES HALLOWEEN FEAR.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Citing new dangers presented by terrorists, Police Chief Bernard C. Parks on Wednesday defended plans to ease requirements for the Los Angeles Police Department's Anti-Terrorist Division to start investigations.

At the same time, Parks sought to allay public fears about anthrax, insisting the LAPD is prepared for emergencies, and he urged parents to use common sense with their children with the upcoming Halloween holiday.

``I don't say we will ever return to normal, but I think we have to get back into a routine,'' Parks said during his monthly ``Ask the Chief'' radio show on KFWB-AM (980).

``That includes Halloween. As we have every year, we tell parents to chaperon their kids, to take them to an activity where there is supervision and check all the candy they get. If it's something suspicious, throw it out.''

Parks said new guidelines approved by the Police Commission this week for the Anti-Terrorist Division will not suspend oversight of the unit, which was developed because of problems with its predecessor, the Public Disorder Intelligence Division.

``Under prior guidelines, we had to have a specific case written up and approved by the Police Commission and the chief before we could begin an investigation,'' Parks said. ``We found it somewhat inhibiting because sometimes you need a preliminary investigation to determine if you had a case.

``So, we wanted to give them some leeway where they would come to the chief and do that. It will not go on forever and it will be approved by the Police Commission if an officer feels there is reasonable cause to proceed.''

Officials with the American Civil Liberties Union, which has protested police intelligence operations in the past, said they are reviewing the new guidelines to try to assess their impact.