Former New York City chief takes over in L.A.

LOS ANGELES -- Mayor James Hahn suggested at the swearing-in ceremony for William Bratton that the new Los Angeles police chief could use a few "r's" in his vocabulary.

Hahn was poking fun at the former New York City police commissioner's Boston accent. But the joke also underscored Bratton's standing as an outsider and Hahn's belief that only an outsider with a distinguished record could rescue a department that had endured a decade of scandal, embarrassment and plummeting officer morale.

In his first two months, Bratton's tough talk, decisiveness and reorganization of the command staff have impressed those who want change for a department that gained a reputation for crisp efficiency during the "Dragnet" era but sullied it with the O.J. Simpson investigation, the Rodney King beating and corruption in the city's gang-ridden Rampart section.

Others, though, regard Bratton's outsider status as a liability and say the tactics employed in New York will not necessarily translate to Los Angeles.

Among other things, Bratton has likened Los Angeles' gangs to the New York Mafia, declared all-out war on them, and appointed a high-ranking officer to oversee the offensive. He has also accused LAPD oficers of "smiling and waving" from their cars instead of more actively preventing crime.

Cultural misunderstanding

Jose Torres, a former member of an East Los Angeles gang, said Bratton's approach shows a misunderstanding of the city's street culture.

"Arresting people has been the only strategy," said Torres, 27, who advocates a mix of policing and job programs to lure young people away from gangs. "And what do we have now? Just a lot of prisons full of minorities."

Others worry his war on gangs could lead officers to commit some of the same abuses that have haunted the department in recent years, such as the planting of evidence and filing of false reports.

"Those kinds of excesses are permitted by that war mentality," said Tom Hayden, the '60s radical and former state lawmaker.

Hayden said Bratton's aggressive tactics in New York contributed to an atmosphere that led to the torture of Abner Louima in a police station bathroom and the police slaying of Amadou Diallo, both of which occurred after Bratton had left the department.

But Bratton's get-tough attitude has been welcomed at City Hall and among many community leaders.

"He's keeping his aim on the main target, which is reducing crime," said former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

Insiders said most rank-and-file officers are happy with Bratton so far. "The union thinks he's great," said David Dotson, a retired assistant chief. "And the rank-and-file have been hungry for a strong leader."

The last outsider to head the LAPD was Willie Williams, a former Philadelphia police commissioner who was hired in 1992 and lasted five years.

He was denied a second term because the Police Commission was frustrated with the slow pace of reform and because of questionable trips to Las Vegas. His successor, Bernard Parks, also failed to win reappointment after losing the confidence of the rank-and-file with his strict discipline.

Bratton, 54, was credited with drastic reductions in crime and violence during his years as New York City police commissioner from 1994 to 1996. He was recognized for reorganizing the New York department and emphasizing community policing, or putting officers back on the beat to get familiar with particular neighborhoods.

But he resigned under pressure from then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who complained that Bratton was more interested in bolstering his public image than doing his job.

Since his swearing-in in Los Angeles on Oct. 28, Bratton has urged residents to get angry about the city's escalating homicides, which have risen to 652 this year, pushed by a surge in gang violence.

Homicides in Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city, are up nearly 11 percent over 2001, compared with a drop of more than 12 percent in New York. Despite a population double the size of Los Angeles, New York City has recorded more than 100 fewer homicides so far this year.

Bratton is also using his honeymoon period to demand more manpower. Los Angeles has about 9,000 officers, less than a quarter of what he had in New York. Bratton asked for the power to add 3,000 officers and wants a new police headquarters.

Nate Holden, the lone council member to vote against Bratton's hiring, said the chief is doing too much talking and should spend more time learning about the city.

"He is really not aware of how we do business here," said Holden, a supporter of Parks.

But City Councilman Eric Garcetti said Bratton's tough talk about crime shows he knows how to get a community's attention and focus it on one issue.

"To move a city, you have to hit them in the gut and reach them in the heart," Garcetti said. "I think he's doing that."