"I would hope that this is the last time we need a special motion . . . to say [to Parks], 'You don't understand it the way we understand it,' " Miscikowski said.
Councilwoman Laura Chick added: "This bogging down at the department level is just, I think, causing disbelief, a shaking of faith [in the department] and frustration."
In an interview from Lake Arrowhead, where city officials are discussing emergency preparedness, Parks said he too is frustrated, but for different reasons, and he blames, in part, the Police Commission for failing to address these conflicts sooner.
"If they think they're frustrated, how do you think we feel in trying to get 10,000 sworn and 3,000 civilians moving in the same direction with some clarity?"Parks asked.
In Parks' absence at the briefing, lawmakers appeared to be speaking directly to the chief through one of his bosses, Commission President Gerald L. Chaleff, whose five-member panel oversees the department.
Although council members were clearly dissatisfied with the chief, they appeared confident in the current Police Commission.
Making veiled references to Chaleff's predecessor, Edith Perez, some lawmakers said they believed this commission is taking the lead to effectively assure strong civilian oversight of the department. Perez was criticized for rubber stamping the chief's proposals rather than scrutinizing them.
Chief Responds to Criticism
Some City Hall insiders said, in fact, that it now appears council members are more comfortable talking to Chaleff than they are addressing the chief.
Parks took a swipe at the council Wednesday.
"You have to wonder: Why are they frightened of the [commission's] citizen committee doing its task? They roundly criticized Commissioner Perez and even said too many things are being worked out behind the scenes. Now we have open debate and they criticize the open debate."
He said the commission's action to establish work rules goes a long way toward answering his concerns, but that it should have happened sooner.
"The mere fact that they chose to do this is an acknowledgment that they've been remiss by not doing this sooner," Parks said. "What keeps getting missed here is everyone zeros in and talks about the inspector general's duties and not talking about the chief's duties. The city attorney has said the inspector general . . . can't impede the chief's ability to do its job."
