A feud between Los Angeles’ current and former police chiefs has escalated from a personal tit for tat into a more complicated fight with potential implications for who leads the police department into the future, says the Los Angeles Times. It is no surprise that sharp-tongued chief William Bratton, and thin-skinned former chief Bernard Parks would end up disliking each another. Said City Councilman Dennis Zine: “Some people are saying maybe it’s Bratton’s New York style of being brash.”
Zine, who was relieved of duty by Parks when both were at the police department, joined with his former boss and critic in signing a letter attacking Bratton. Council President Eric Garcetti has joined in demanding that Bratton apologize for his criticisms of the council. The debate’s outcome could determine whether the chief stays or goes when his term expires next year. Critics were upset that Bratton said Parks and Zine “don’t know what the hell they’re talking about” regarding a change in police hiring policy.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bratton23jul23,1,978510.story?coll=la-headlines-california