Jun 20, 2007 10:10 am US/Pacific
Bratton Gets Second Term Despite May Day Melee
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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Despite the image-tarnishing May Day melee in MacArthur Park, the Police Commission announced Tuesday that Bratton is staying on for a second term.
CBS
Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton was granted a second and final term Tuesday by the Police Commission, which cited his accomplishments in driving down crime citywide.
Bratton is the first police chief to be retained for a second term since voters in 1992 adopted the Christopher Commission reforms stemming from the infamous Rodney King police beating.
"We agree that Chief Bratton has provided visionary, innovative and progressive leadership for the Los Angeles Police Department," Police Commission President John Mack said. "His is a vision of policing for the 21st century."
Bratton, who will turn 60 in October, announced on April 2 that he wanted to serve a second term. Since then, the five-member civilian panel that oversees the department had been evaluating the chief's performance.
Mack praised Bratton's handling of the aftermath of a May Day melee in MacArthur Park, at which LAPD officers clashed with demonstrators and journalists during an immigrant rights rally.
More than 40 people were injured during the fracas, including five police officers and at least nine members of the news media.
"Chief Bratton's response to the extremely disturbing May 1 incident at MacArthur Park, which had caused justified community outrage, represented an important demonstration of enlightened, decisive leadership, particularly the way he addressed the breakdown of command and control problems immediately," Mack said.
Mack said the MacArthur Park incident "was extremely disturbing to the Police Commission and recalled memories involving the LAPD of the past."
But Mack noted that the fracas only represented one aspect of the chief's term, and that the commission was charged with examining other aspects of Bratton's tenure over the past four years.
"Under Chief Bratton's leadership, the LAPD has made great strides in many areas, despite some of the very disturbing incidents that have caused major setbacks in the court of public opinion," Mack said. "Even though progress has been made, the LAPD still faces future challenges."
Despite the clash, Bratton retained Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's support in his bid for a second term.
Villaraigosa, who appointed all five Police Commission members, was scheduled to discuss the commission's 5-0 reappointment vote during a noontime City Hall news conference.
Bratton's first term, marked by five years of crime reduction citywide, ends Oct. 24.
His immediate predecessors, Bernard Parks and Willie Williams, each served one five-year term. Parks is now a City Council member.
Bratton, a Boston native, has headed both the New York City and Boston police departments and served as chief of the New York Transit Police, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and the metropolitan District Commission Police in the Boston metro area.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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