RIORDAN, PARKS OPPOSE CONSENT DECREE DICTATING LAPD REFORM

[]Police: Sources say mayor and chief hope for a less restrictive pact with
Justice Department.

As Los Angeles city officials prepare to resume their negotiations over
police reform with the U.S. Department of Justice today, Mayor Richard
Riordan and Police Chief Bernard C. Parks are expressing misgivings about
entering into a consent decree to forestall a civil rights lawsuit.

While Parks lobbied behind the scenes at City Hall, Riordan said publicly
that he does not believe a federally imposed court order is needed to
address "pattern or practice" abuses within the department.

"The bottom line is that we have a chief of police, we have a Police
Commission, we have an independent task force . . . all of whom have a
strong goal to clean up" the LAPD, Riordan said on his monthly "Ask the
Mayor" show on KFWB-AM (980).

"Anybody who has ideas, such as the Justice Department, we seek their help,
but we don't need to have them sue us. We don't need to have a consent
decree, don't need to have them monitor us."

The mayor's comments came less than 24 hours before the city was set to
hold its most intense negotiating session yet with officials from the
Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, which is threatening to sue Los
Angeles if city leaders refuse to implement a variety of reforms to clean
up allegedly widespread misconduct and civil rights violations in the LAPD.

Sources said federal officials ultimately are expected to present a list of
demands, including requiring the city to implement a better system to track
problem officers.

Although the full text of a consent decree will not be on the table at
today's meeting, sources say, Parks has joined the mayor in expressing
strong opposition to a legally binding agreement, which would give a
federal judge oversight of the department's reform efforts.

The mayor and the chief are hoping for a less restrictive agreement with
the Justice Department, such as a memorandum of understanding, sources say.
Nevertheless, some City Hall insiders question whether such an option is
feasible, given the magnitude of the allegations against the LAPD since the
Rampart corruption scandal began.

Several City Council members--who must eventually approve any agreement
with the Justice Department--are pushing for a consent decree to ensure
that the problems in the LAPD are finally addressed.

"I don't believe this department will do what it needs to do without [a
decree]," said Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas.

Riordan, however, said such an agreement would only cause problems. He
cited Pittsburgh as an example, alleging that a consent decree there led to
increased crime and a demoralized Police Department.

"I don't tolerate the kind of behavior in Rampart, but we have to have a
safe city," Riordan said on his radio show.