Bernard C. Parks (born December 7, 1943) is an American politician who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 8th district in South Los Angeles from 2003 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Parks served as Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from August 1997 to May 2002.
Bernard C. Parks | |
|---|---|
 Parks in 2010 | |
| Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department | |
| In office August 12, 1997 – May 4, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Willie L. Williams |
| Succeeded by | William Bratton |
| Member of the Los Angeles City Council from the 8th district | |
| In office July 1, 2003 – July 1, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Ridley-Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Marqueece Harris-Dawson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 7, 1943 Beaumont, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Bobbie Parks |
| Residence(s) | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Pepperdine University University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Police officer (LAPD) |
| Police career | |
| Country |  United States |
| Department |  Los Angeles Police Department |
| Service years | 1964–2002 |
| Rank | Sworn in as an Officer – 1964 Sergeant – 1969 Lieutenant – 1973 Captain – 1977 Commander – 1980 Deputy Chief – 1988 Asst. Chief – 1992Deputy Chief – 1994  Chief of Police – 1997 |
Early life and education
editParks is a graduate of Daniel Murphy High School and attended Los Angeles City College and received a bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University. He earned a Master's Degree in public administration from the University of Southern California.[citation needed]
Career
editDuring 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.[citation needed] 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.[1]
In 2003, Parks won the seat on the Los Angeles City Council for Council District 8 representing South Los Angeles.[citation needed] He also unsuccessfully ran for the post of mayor in the 2005 elections, coming 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.[citation needed] 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.[2]
References
edit- ^ Bratton, William. "The LAPD: Chief Bratton". Official Site of The LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT.
- ^ LA Times: "Marqueece Harris-Dawson takes office as councilman of L.A.'s 8th District", 1 July 2015.
External links
edit- Alex Alonzo, "It's Not About Crime and Never Was: Bernard Parks' ouster as LAPD Chief, Streetgangs.com, April 12, 2002
- "Bernard Parks' record as LAPD chief and city councilman is a mixed blessing in his race for L.A. County supervisor"--LA Times
- Gillian Wolf, "Bernard C. Parks," Gale Contemporary Black Biography