Los Angeles: On December 14, 2001, Los Angeles City Mayor James Hahn convened a meeting between Los Angeles Chief of Police Bernard Parks and Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) President Mitzi Grasso. At the Mayor’s request, Chief Bernard Parks and Mitzi Grasso announced to the public that they would both work together to effectively serve the people of Los Angeles and the dedicated men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Since this meeting, the League has shown no inclination to honor their promise to the Mayor and the community. Instead, they have continued with their divisive, irresponsible behavior, in an attempt to tarnish the image of the Chief of Police.

One must carefully analyze the public words spoken by the League in comparison to their private actions. An example of this is where the League publicly speaks of their renewed concern for public safety and the people of the Los Angeles community. However, less publicly, in their union newspaper, one of the league directors wrote to officers telling them, "If you do proactive aggressive law enforcement in the City of Los Angeles, you may become a criminal and a fool." In an effort to further discourage the officers from engaging in proactive law enforcement, this same league director encouraged officers to "Get a warrant for everything and do police work at your own risk."

Los Angeles Chief of Police Bernard C. Parks, while expressing disappointment with the League’s Board of Directors for their continuous affront to the leadership of Mayor Hahn, stated, "This Department will not undermine this City's leadership. I will continue to focus on the issue of public safety and protecting and serving the people of Los Angeles. I stand on our record, recently publicized in the Department’s four-year report. Also, I stand with the proud men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department and applaud their successes."

This press release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank, Officer in Charge, Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.