SHERIFF SHUFFLES TOP JOBS; CHIEF AIDE LEAVING TO STUMP FOR BLOCK.

Byline: Douglas Haberman Daily News Staff Writer

Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block's top assistant is stepping aside to campaign for Block's re-election and some other managers are being promoted, the sheriff announced Tuesday.

Undersheriff Jerry Harper, who has been planning to retire in January, said beginning Friday he will take vacation time and a six-week leave of absence.

Block said Harper's replacement as undersheriff will be Assistant Sheriff Michael E. Graham, a 31-year veteran of the force who now oversees the custody and detective divisions, and field operations.

Harper plans to help the sheriff in the first runoff election ever forced on Block, seeking his fifth term in office. ``He's got the experience and the judgment,'' said Harper, whom Block promoted to the department's No. 2 position in March 1993. ``Despite the fact we've had some problems, his attitude is, OK, we'll take care of the problems.''

Block is in the Nov. 3 runoff against former sheriff's Chief Lee Baca, who ran a strong second in the June primary.

Baca was unavailable for comment Tuesday but his campaign spokesman Jorge Flores said it is unprecedented for the sheriff to shuffle management less than two months before the election.

``These are just maneuvers to bolster a failing campaign and the voters will see through it,'' said Flores.

Baca's duties included overseeing the Carson, Century, Lomita, Lennox, Marina del Rey and West Hollywood stations before he retired from the department to campaign full time.

Chief Rachel Burgess, who took over Baca's duties, will become the department's first female assistant sheriff. She served as acting assistant sheriff for a brief stint that began in December.

Harper said his decision to leave his duties wasn't prompted by any concerns about Block's chances in the election.

Joe Scott, a spokesman for Block's campaign, also rejected speculation that the sheriff's campaign might be faltering. ``I think we're running confidently. If anyone's running scared, it's Baca,'' said Scott, citing Baca's recent hairstyle change and more aggressive campaign style.

Although sheriff's officials said there is no connection, the management changes come about a week after department leaders announced a criminal investigation into an inmate's beating Aug. 10.

Seven deputies and a custody assistant were placed on paid leave the day other deputies reported the beating, said Block.

Called ``the posse'' by some deputies, the group forced to take leave allegedly claimed inmates were being coddled at the Twin Towers jail. They are suspected of taking it upon themselves to dole out punishment, said Block.

Assistant Sheriff Robert Mann said the department and the District Attorney's Office are investigating the possibility the beating was assault under the color of authority.

Several deputies taken off duty were not assigned to the floor where the beating occurred, but are suspected of being involved in the group with some sort of code for communicating among themselves, said Block.