LEADERSHIP IN THE LAPD
LEADERSHIP IN THE LAPD
WALKING THE TIGHTROPE
Renford Reese
Carolina Academic Press Durham, North Carolina Copyright © 2005 Renford 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. Police chiefs—California—Los Angeles. I. Title.
HV8148.L55R44 2004 353.2'092'279494--dc22 2004002867
Carolina Academic Press 700 Kent Street Durham, North Carolina 27701 Telephone (919) 489-7486 Fax (919) 493-5668 www.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 viii Contents
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 Contents ix
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 xContents
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 LEADERSHIP IN THE LAPD