Police Chief Bernard Parks took a beating last week after all five candidates for L.A. mayor criticized at least some of his policies during a debate sponsored by the police union. With the Rampart scandal and complaints over police handling of illegal activity following the Lakers championship victory, Parks is under fire from many directions. So the Business Journal asks:
What do you think of the job Bernard Parks has done running the LAPD?
Harvey Bookstein
Partner
RBZ
I think any executive that has a top position can never be close enough to all the problems to see each and every aspect and detail. In regard to Chief Parks, my sense is that he is taking charge of it. No matter what the result, it is a terrible situation. We don’t know exactly what is going on behind the scenes.
Paula Bethsebe
Owner
In Fusion Marketing & Communication
I am not pleased with the fact that the cop on the street seems demoralized. They are the thin blue line. They are what stands between us and the criminals. I don’t think that he is being aggressive enough in regard to backing up his men and women. I think he needs to do more for the people that work for him.
Mike McGrath
Investment Advisor
Cirrus Wealth Management
If he was more aware of what was going on in the rank and file, like a good executive should be, then the Rampart scandal might not have happened.
Robert Wellerstein
Countrywide Credit Industries
Regional Vice President
I’m not impressed by Parks at all. I have heard police calling in on talk shows about bad morale in the department. Because of the scandal, the police now feel like they can’t do anything. It’s become hands-off. The whole department has become passive. It is a tough situation. About the Staples incident, I had been predicting for two weeks before the game that there would be a riot, and from what I read (the LAPD) didn’t implement the plan. Parks seems like he is very bureaucratic and not getting the job done.
William Nash
Junior Trader
CIBC Oppenheimer
I think he has done a bad job. I’m not happy with the scandal. I don’t know how much he knew about it, but it happened while he was there. It seems like he should be more aware of what is going on with his employees.
Brennan Maley
Real Estate Associate
Told Partners Inc.
I am sure that he is trying to do the best he can under the circumstances. There is a lot of scrutiny of the LAPD going on right now. I think he is trying to do the best job he can on behalf of the city, as would any public official.
Mark Miller
Owner
Miller Custom Boats
I am really disappointed with the way he is handling things. This whole Rampart scandal is such a bad reflection on our city, and whether or not he is directly responsible for the events that have taken place, he needs to support those that are under him.
Zacky Rozio
Partner
Fadlon & Rozio law firm
I don’t think he was in place long enough as chief to do something about Rampart, which is something that was a long time coming. There are some cops that are just bad, a minority, but that’s not his fault. I think the situation at Staples after the (NBA) finals was completely foreseeable and was pathetically handled. And I think that’s a fault of leadership.
