Chief Willie Williams

Re "Police Chief Claims Victory; Others See Credibility in Doubt," June 22: In light of the City Council's action, it is quite apparent that the Los Angeles police chief is held to a different standard compared to the rank-and-file officers within the department. Is this leadership? From a citizen's perspective, it is not. Perhaps when Chief Willie Williams' time in office is complete, the mayor, Police Commission and City Council will look for a new chief who is capable and willing to be held to the same standard as all LAPD officers.

Re "Police Chief Files $10-Million Claim Against L.A.," Sept. 19: Chief Willie Williams contends his professional reputation has been tarnished by vacation habits, not by his inattention to crime-ridden neighborhoods, or the ambush of an innocent family and the execution of a 3-year-old girl. Perhaps Williams should be accountable for the damage he is causing to the reputation of Los Angeles. Williams is a civic leader, not the participant in a personal injury insurance fraud. It is morally wrong for him to even suggest penalizing the taxpayers for the violation of his personnel files by some political hack.

Re "Chief, Officers Pledge to Rid LAPD of Racism," Oct. 13: While I believe Chief Willie Williams wants to do what he can to eliminate the Mark Fuhrmans from the LAPD, his badge of sincerity became seriously tarnished after I read his response to the question "whether he could guarantee that no future Fuhrmans would join the force." Williams said, "When every bank, law firm, court, private industry and everything else in the world can guarantee that they don't hire Mark Fuhrmans, then I'll be able to guarantee it."

Your coverage of Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks' resolve to seek another term in office despite official opposition (April 10) presented a compelling portrait of a man of high character and uncompromising integrity. In the face of controversy from all quarters, he undeniably has the strength and courage to stand alone and work toward his vision of better law enforcement. And that is what we hired him to do. The ordeal of change is often painful, and it takes a remarkable individual to make it happen.

By December, Chief Willie Williams must let the Police Commission know whether he is interested in a second five-year term; the commission will then have 90 days to respond. A year ago, I would have put money against the chief's having a future with the LAPD. Personally, I'm on the fence--a staunch supporter of Dick Riordan and one who also happens to like Williams as a person, even with his well-publicized faults.

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams ended weeks of speculation Thursday by formally filing his application for a second term, a move that raises the stakes in the high-level political debate over whether he deserves another five years at the helm of the LAPD. Williams delivered an 11-page letter to members of the city's civilian Police Commission in which he made his case for a second term.

In response to your editorial, "Why All the Williams Bashing?" (March 6), there are many of us in Los Angeles, a city of all colors, economic statuses and ethnic backgrounds who have been wondering the same thing. I think, though, that your editorial did not answer the question, which probably is not susceptible to a specific answer. Who the people are who do not want Police Chief Willie Williams to succeed, regardless of the cost to Los Angeles in morale and dangerous divisiveness, is another question.

As tensions mounted between the Riordan Administration and Police Chief Willie L. Williams, a memo announcing that the mayor will alter the usual chain of command and begin meeting directly with an array of high-ranking police officials has raised eyebrows at City Hall. The memo, dated May 31 and signed by Assistant Chief Bayan Lewis, the LAPD director of operations, notes that "the mayor has requested biweekly briefings "with the department's staff and command officers."

Opening the curtain on what promises to be a contentious fight over renewing Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams' contract next spring, a City Council panel will consider today whether to hire a private attorney to counsel the Police Commission. Police Commission President Raymond C. Fisher said the request for a contract of up to $75,000 with the Santa Monica law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker is routine, and the commission simply wants independent guidance on how to proceed.

Frustrated by public safety problems in south Los Angeles, residents last week urged Police Commissioner Deirdre Hill to help them play bigger roles in the city's community policing program. "There is no shared decision-making," said Melanie Markham of Baldwin Hills. "As far as we know, little has happened." Markham was among about 50 residents and community organizers at a forum Tuesday night at Foshay Junior High School that featured Hill, vice president of the Los Angeles Police Commission.