Lack of support for Parks right on track

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In recent years, simply saying “LAPD” guaranteed a
shake of the head. The name conjures images of the 1992 riots, the
Rampart scandal, and various other forms of corruption. In fact,
the Los Angeles Police Department’s reputation is so bad, it
has had to launch a massive recruitment program to make up for the
several-thousand officer shortage they are experiencing.

Until Feb. 5, Police Chief Bernard Parks had managed to keep his
job. But when Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn announced his lack of
support for the chief, Parks’ job security plummeted.
Hahn’s announcement sent shockwaves through the city,
especially in the black community whose support essentially secured
him the mayor’s office in last year’s election. By
publicly coming out against the city’s African American chief
after appearing to support him during the campaign, black leaders
felt Hahn had deceived them. The angst escalated on Tuesday when
the Police Commission rejected Parks’ bid for a second
five-year term.

Because Los Angeles is an extremely racially diverse city, it is
perfectly reasonable to expect its police chief to represent that
diversity. But just because Parks is a black man does not mean he
is doing his job effectively ““ or that he is the only person
of color who can fill that role. Under Parks, the department has
struggled with understaffing, low morale, rising crime rates and
scandal ““ and he has done little to indicate he will fix the
situation.

Los Angeles needs reform, and it needs a leader who can take it
forward. Parks has had a substantial opportunity to make something
happened, and failed. It’s time to find someone who can
deliver.