Interim Chief Shakes Up LAPD Brass

In a massive shake-up of the Los Angeles Police Department’s upper echelon, interim Police Chief Bayan Lewis on Wednesday reassigned about a dozen top officials in order to help him in “ramrodding” change within the department.

Lewis said the moves--many of which had been expected for weeks--will help him address reform and policy issues during his three-month tenure as head of the department.

As anticipated, Lewis demoted Assistant Chiefs Frank Piersol and Ronald C. Banks to lower-profile jobs and named Deputy Chiefs Bernard Parks, Mark Kroeker and David Gascon--all of whom are candidates for the permanent chief’s post--to three of the LAPD’s top positions.

“I needed my own, personal team to move things forward,” Lewis said in an interview Wednesday to explain his reorganization. “I have many things I want to accomplish in a short period of time.”

Lewis, who has vowed not to be a caretaker chief while a search for a permanent successor to Willie L. Williams is conducted, summoned more than 100 of the department’s brass to the LAPD’s downtown headquarters for a 9 a.m. meeting to announce his staff reorganization. All the changes, he said, are effective Sunday.

“He did it very matter-of-fact-like, but very warm,” said one top official who attended the meeting. “There was a distinct impression that a new day is dawning for the department.”

In addition to the staff changes, which ultimately will be reevaluated by the permanent chief, Lewis laid out a broad and ambitious agenda he hopes to tackle in the weeks ahead. He said the temporary position gives him an opportunity to make a final mark on the organization before he retires this summer after 34 years with the department.

Lewis, 55, said his priorities and goals include: seeking national accreditation for the LAPD’s scientific lab; determining how many officers will have their firearms revoked because of a federal law forbidding those convicted of domestic violence to carry guns; implementing Christopher Commission reforms; facilitating a merger with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority police; studying the merits of flexible work schedules for police officers; improving relations with the district attorney’s office; and pursuing community policing programs aggressively.

“Today is the start of a new life,” said Lewis, sitting in his office and wearing the chief’s badge presented to him by the Police Commission two days ago. “We have a lot on our plate, and we all have a responsibility to make these things happen.”

Lewis acknowledged that with his short-timer’s status, he is unlikely to accomplish all his goals but said he hopes to make significant headway on most.

Lewis’ staff changes give police commissioners, currently searching for a permanent chief, a unique opportunity to see how candidates Gascon, Parks and Kroeker perform in their higher-profile assignments over the next couple of months.

“The city is going to get a lot of quality time out of these guys as they each try to outshine the other and prove they are good leaders,” said one city government insider.

Under Lewis’ reorganization plan, Parks, who had headed the Bureau of Special Investigations, will run the Office of Operations. Kroeker was moved from head of the South Bureau to head of the Office of Administrative Services, and Gascon, who headed the Human Resources Bureau, will become Lewis’ chief of staff.

Banks, chief of staff to Williams, who stepped down last weekend after being rejected by the Police Commission for a second five-year term, will switch jobs with Gascon. Piersol, who headed the Office of Administrative Services, will replace Parks at the Bureau of Special Investigation.

Lewis has told Banks and Piersol that they may have their salaries cut if they don’t retire by July 5. Both men are the subject of an investigation by the Police Commission’s inspector general for submitting requests for pay raises they were not entitled to.

Banks and Piersol were unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Lewis said the demotions of Banks and Piersol were not intended as punishment but as changes he needed to make to shape his administration and prepare the department for a smooth transition to the next chief. He described the reorganization as a “clean break” from the past administration.

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Parks, Gascon and Kroeker, who attended an afternoon news conference called by Lewis to publicly announce the reassignments, said they were looking forward to the opportunities provided by their new jobs. They said they suspect that city officials would be scrutinizing their performances because of their interest in the permanent chief’s job.

“We’re always under the microscope at the LAPD, particularly at the top,” Gascon said.

Parks also dismissed the pressure, saying, “If you have not made much of an impression in 32 years, 2 1/2 months is not going to make a difference.”

Nonetheless, Kroeker said he and his colleagues will be out “demonstrating the finest of leadership” qualities in their new positions.

The Police Commission is due to forward the names of three finalists for the chief’s job to Mayor Richard Riordan on July 29. Riordan, with the confirmation of the City Council, will select the new chief.

Other staff changes included moving: Cmdr. Tim McBride, head of the Community Affairs Group, to head operations of the Valley Bureau; Cmdr. J.I. Davis, head of the Criminal Intelligence Group, to lead the South Bureau; Cmdr. Greg Berg, head of the Narcotics Group, to lead the Internal Affairs Group; Cmdr. Scott LaChasse, head of operations for the Valley Bureau, to lead the Narcotics Group; Cmdr. Betty Kelepecz, head of the Scientific Investigations Division, to lead the Community Policing Group; and Cmdr. Garrett Zimmon, head of the Community Policing Group, to become assistant to the chief of staff.