LEADERSHIP IN THE LAPD

LEADERSHIP IN THE LAPD

WALKING THE TIGHTROPE

Renford Reese

Carolina Academic Press

Durham, North Carolina

Copyright © 2005Renford Reese

All Rights Reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Reese, Renford, 1967 -Leadership in the LAPD : walking the tightrope / by Renford

Reese.p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.ISBN 1-59460-020-1

1. Police administration—California—Los Angeles. 2. Policechiefs—California—Los Angeles. I. Title.

HV8148.L55R44 2004353.2'092'279494--dc22 2004002867

Carolina Academic Press700 Kent Street

Durham, North Carolina 27701Telephone (919) 489-7486

Fax (919) 493-5668www.cap-press.com

Printed in the United States of America

To all the good cops.

Contents

Introduction xiii

The Tightrope xiii

Overview xiv

Leadership xviii

Methodology xxiv

References xxvi

Chapter 1: LAPD History & Culture 1

LAPD History 1

Chief William Parker 3

Chief Ed Davis 7

Us vs. Them 9

Perpetual Reforms 11

Lessons Learned 17

Discussion Questions 19

References 19

Chapter 2: Chief Daryl Gates 23

Up through the Ranks 23

Leadership Characteristics 24

The Chokehold 26

Rodney King 29

vii

The 1992 Los Angeles Riots 33

Lessons Learned 37

Discussion Questions 39

References 40

Chapter 3: Chief Willie Williams 43

Transition: Gates to Williams 43

Building Relations and Credibility 46

Credibility 47

Integrity and Trust 49

Judgment 51

Leadership Traits 53

Lessons Learned 57

Discussion Questions 60

References 60

Chapter 4: Chief Bernard Parks 65

Transition: Williams to Parks 65

Building Relations 67

Critical Mistakes 69

Leadership Profile 74

Lessons Learned 79

Discussion Questions 83

References 84

Chapter 5: The Rampart Scandal 87

Background 87

Police Corruption 88

The Scandal 90

Managerial Oversight 93

Bureaucratic Discretion 96

viii Contents

Civilian Oversight 98

Police Ethics 100

Lessons Learned 102

Discussion Questions 103

References 104

Chapter 6: Ethics, Hollywood & Reality 107

Serpico and L.A. Confidential 107

Training Day 109

Critical Race Theory 114

Rampart Scandal Meets Hollywood 116

Contradictory Messages 117

Lessons Learned 119

Discussion Questions 121

References 121

Chapter 7: Chief William Bratton 123

Transition: Parks to Bratton 123

Bratton’s Profile 125

Bratton vs. Parks 127

Leadership Characteristics & Policing Philosophy 132

Leadership Challenges 135

Discussion Questions 141

References 142

Chapter 8: Lessons in Leadership 145

William Parker 146

Ed Davis 147

Daryl Gates 149

Willie Williams 151

Bernard Parks 152

Contents ix

William Bratton 154

Discussion Questions 156

Appendix 157

Questions & Answers 157

Questions about Chief Willie Williams 157

Questions about Chief Bernard Parks 159

Questions about Chief William Bratton 163

Questions about Gang Violence in Los Angeles 166

Questions about General Perceptions of the LAPD 171

Index 175

x Contents

LEADERSHIP IN THE LAPD