Council Concerned Over LAPD Issues

An investigation into a complaint to the Police Commission’s inspector general’s office, intercepted by the panel’s executive director, led City Council members Tuesday into a much broader discussion about the independence of the department’s watchdog, Police Chief Bernard C. Parks’ strained relationship with the LAPD’s union and morale in the department.

Although most of that discussion occurred in closed session, Councilman Joel Wachs succeeded in persuading his colleagues to release a tape of the meeting to allow the public a glimpse of the debate. That action is unprecedented in the city, officials said, and the tape will be released after names and other personnel matters are erased.

At issue initially was a letter written by Los Angeles Police Sgt. Jace Kessler to then-Inspector General Katherine Mader complaining about a comment made by Parks. In the course of that public remark, the chief referred to the police union directors as “tired old men.”

But the complaint was handled by the commission’s executive director, Joe Gunn, while Mader was out of town. When the council heard that Gunn had dismissed the complaint, saying that it did not warrant an investigation and then sent Parks a copy, lawmakers asked for a review of the matter.

In a confidential report to council members, obtained by The Times, the commission found that Gunn behaved properly by acting in the inspector general’s absence. But the commission also has developed steps to avoid any future problems. Among those is a recommendation that the inspector general develop a policy to deal with complaints against the chief.

But an exchange of confidential e-mail messages between the chief and the sergeant, which were released during the closed session, led some council members to say that they are concerned about morale in the department and the chief’s tense relationship with the Police Protective League, the union.

In response to the sergeant’s e-mail, Parks wrote: “It is always great to get different perceptions from our employees as you are the only one of 13,000 employees that have such strong feelings on this issue . . . not even the league directors have expressed the same concerns,” Parks wrote.

Tuesday’s report to the council, however, said there were three anonymous complaints about the remark to the LAPD’s internal affairs unit, apart from Kessler’s complaint.

In his e-mail, Kessler told the chief that he was concerned about the chief’s credibility in the LAPD. To that, Parks responded: “I also appreciate your personal concerns re: my credibility but I am pleased with my level of credibility in this organization and do not see a need to apologize for my statements.”

Before going into closed session, Councilman Richard Alatorre said: “I think this is just symptomatic of a deteriorating relationship that ultimately is going to have a profound impact on this city, on the department and the way that it is managed,”

Other council members raised similar concerns.

“This was never considered a totally separate, isolated issue,” said Councilwoman Laura Chick, who heads the Public Safety Committee. “It was seen as an example of something bigger. I’ve always had concerns that there is the kind of civilian oversight--particularly with the inspector general--to make sure the discipline system is fair and equitable.”

One council member wondered: “Is there a reign of terror going on over there that’s not appropriate?”

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said several council members voiced concerns to the Police Commission about the panel’s independence, given Gunn’s close relationship with the chief and LAPD command staff.

“We don’t wish to have their independence compromised by its staff’s alignment with the police administration,” Ridley-Thomas said. “And I’m specifically talking about Joe Gunn.”

He said police commissioners told the council that they would talk to Gunn, a former LAPD commander.