Website www.bernardparks.com Occupation Police officer (LAPD) | Spouse(s) Bobbie Parks Role American Politician Name Bernard Parks | |
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Residence Los Angeles, California, United States | ||
Bernard c parks for l a county supervisor political ad 2008
Bernard C. Parks (born December 7, 1943) is an American politician. He was a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 8th District in South Los Angeles. He served as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from August 1997 to May 2002. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
- Bernard c parks for l a county supervisor political ad 2008
- Bernard Parks City Los Angeles Chief of Police Interview
- Personal life and education
- Tenure as LAPD Chief Rampart Division scandal
- Los Angeles City Council
- References
Bernard Parks, City Los Angeles Chief of Police Interview
Personal life and education
Parks attended Los Angeles City College, received a bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University, and earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.
Tenure as LAPD Chief & Rampart Division scandal
Appointed chief of police 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. The department was placed under a federal consent decree and there was concern that morale was low in the department. The Police Commission, under Commission President Rick J. Caruso did not recommend Parks for reappointment as police chief. Parks was succeeded as chief by William Bratton.
Los Angeles City Council
Parks capitalized on his popularity among South Los Angeles' black population to win the vacant seat on the Los Angeles City Council for Council District 8 representing South Los Angeles. Parks' most frequent media quarrels have been with his successor as police chief, William Bratton, due to their differing stances on LAPD policies.
Parks unsuccessfully ran for mayor in the 2005 elections, placing fourth in the primary. In 2008, Parks unsuccessfully sought to succeed Yvonne Brathwaite Burke on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, losing to Mark Ridley-Thomas in a runoff election.
Councilmember Parks sponsored a successful 2011 City Charter Amendment, Measure L. The Measure passed by 63 percent of the Los Angeles voters. This guarantees a minimum level of funding for Library services. By fiscal year, 2014-2015, the guaranteed percentage will be 0.0300% of "assessed value of all property in the City as assessed for City taxes."
Term limits forced Parks out of the city council office in 2015. Marqueece Harris-Dawson won the District 8 election for the vacant seat, and replaced Parks on 1 July 2015.