Candidate Confirms He Seeks LAPD Post

Ronnie Watson, the chief of police in Cambridge, Mass., confirmed Thursday that he is among 13 semifinalists vying to lead the Los Angeles Police Department. He is the only AfricanAmerican on the list.

Watson--who spent 33 years with the Chicago Police Department--is set to arrive in Los Angeles next week for an interview with members of the Police Commission, who are searching for a candidate to replace former Chief Bernard C. Parks.

Watson is on a list of finalists that includes a number of ranking LAPD officials, a former New York City police commissioner and police chiefs from Sacramento, Santa Ana, Oxnard and Portland.

Although city officials say they actively sought out African American applicants, Watson was one of only two who applied for the job and met the city’s application criteria.

Melanie Lomax, a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission from 1989 through 1991, said she believes that many qualified African American law enforcement officials opted out because of the cloud of controversy that surrounded Parks and Willie L. Williams, who both were denied second terms after police commissioners complained about their performances.

“I think the fact that you had two African American chiefs driven out of office is a huge deterrent to anyone who is on this level in the African American community,� Lomax said.

Edwin P. Compass III, chief of the New Orleans Police Department, was one of the African American law enforcement officials heavily courted for the LAPD position. With only a few months on the job as head of the New Orleans police force, he said, it was too soon for him to think about moving.

“I was told that it could be me� as LAPD chief, Compass said. “But I didn’t want it to be me. I love New Orleans. It wouldn’t be fair to the people of Los Angeles for me to go up and interview and not be in the position to accept.�

In a telephone interview Thursday, Watson said he was honored to be considered for the LAPD job. He declined to discuss his candidacy in racial terms.

“It’s not who you are or what you are, it’s whether you are a good fit for your city, for Los Angeles,� said Watson, who has headed the 270-member Cambridge department since 1996. “I’m one of 13, and I’m honored.�

The 13 candidates include six current LAPD members and two former senior members. There are two women on the list and four Latinos.

In addition to Watson, nine other finalists have confirmed that they are preparing for interviews, which start next Wednesday as the Police Commission moves to narrow the list of finalists to three candidates. From the LAPD are Assistant Chief David Gascon, Deputy Chief Margaret A. York, Deputy Chief David Kalish, Cmdr. Sharon Papa, Cmdr. James McDonnell and Cmdr. George Gascon. Outside candidates include Portland, Ore., Police Chief Mark Kroeker, former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton and Oxnard Police Chief Art Lopez.

According to sources, three other candidates due to be interviewed are former Philadelphia Police Chief John Timoney, Sacramento Police Chief Arturo Venegas and Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters. All three have declined to confirm whether they are in the running.

Police Commission officials said earlier this week that they had narrowed the list of candidates to 13--who they would not name--from a field of 21. Initially, 51 people had applied for the job.

The Police Commission wants to submit its three-name list to Mayor James K. Hahn by the end of September.

Hahn, under the City Charter, is charged with selecting the chief from among those finalists--subject to City Council approval.

The city began the search for a new chief in April, after Parks was denied a second five-year term. Retired LAPD Deputy Chief Martin Pomeroy is currently serving as acting chief.