Bernard C. Parks

Bernard Parks (born December 7, 1943 in Beaumont, Texas) is a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 8th District in South Los Angeles and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Related Topics:
December 7 - 1943 - Beaumont, Texas - Los Angeles City Council - South Los Angeles - Los Angeles Police Department

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Parks attended Los Angeles City College, received his B.S. from Pepperdine University, and holds a Masters in public administration from the University of Southern California.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles City College - Pepperdine University - Public administration - University of Southern California

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Appointed chief on August 12, 1997, Parks oversaw a significant drop in violent crime throughout the city and especially in South Central. However, during his tenure, the LAPD was rocked by a corruption and police brutality scandal involving the elite C.R.A.S.H. anti-gang unit of the Rampart Division in the overwhelmingly Latino Pico-Union and Westlake districts. Parks's generally inflexible and high-handed leadership during the crisis led to severe morale problems among the rank and file, and his public relations efforts were generally regarded as poor. Some commentators, including former officers, have noted that the activities involved in the Rampart scandal dated back to when he was head of LAPD's Internal Affairs division and have accused his office of covering up the brewing scandal. His term ended on May 4, 2002, then-recently elected Mayor James K. Hahn opting not to retain him. Parks was replaced by former NYPD chief William Bratton. (Hahn's lack of finesse in handling the firing of Parks, who was beloved among the African-American community that propelled Hahn to victory in the 2001 mayoral election, is generally considered to be the primary factor in his defeat in the 2005 elections.)

Related Topics:
August 12 - 1997 - C.R.A.S.H. - Rampart Division - Pico-Union - Westlake - Public relations - Internal Affairs - May 4 - 2002 - James K. Hahn - NYPD - William Bratton

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Soon after the end of his tenure as LAPD chief, Parks capitalized on his popularity among South Central's black population to win a vacant seat on the City Council, where his relatively pro-business orientation and unconcealed enmity for Hahn made him a colorful media figure. He ran for mayor in the 2005 elections, but lost in the primary election, placing fourth.

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