6 on Council Back Police Chief’s Bid to Demote Aide : Government: They say Williams should be allowed to implement his reforms. But Yaroslavsky stands by embattled Parks.

Rallying behind Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams, six City Council members Monday signaled their support of the chief’s efforts to reorganize his department and demote Assistant Chief Bernard C. Parks.

Councilman Marvin Braude, who heads the council’s Public Safety Committee, said during a news conference that city officials must step aside and give Williams a chance to implement his reforms.

“One of the most important tools the chief has to do his job is his immediate staff,” Braude said. “We must encourage him to find people with whom he can work, in whom he has trust. . . . It is not appropriate for other city officials to interfere in his management methods.”

Joining Braude at the briefing was Councilman Mike Hernandez. Braude said council members Laura Chick, Joel Wachs, Jackie Goldberg and Mark Ridley-Thomas also endorse Williams’ efforts.

The council members’ show of support came after three weeks in which Williams has come under sharp criticism from members of the mayor’s office and certain City Council members, who were trying to work out a deal to keep Parks from leaving the department.

In an unusual move last week, Williams complained publicly that some council members were tampering with his business.

Braude, who serves as chairman of the council’s police oversight panel, said his colleagues must stop second-guessing the chief.

“Personnel decisions are always difficult, but they take on the magnitude of a civil war when they are conducted in the press,” Braude said. “No one is helped and the entire Police Department suffers.”

Hernandez added: “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bernie Parks, there is no question in my mind.

“But I do know I want to hold the chief accountable,” he continued. “In order for me to be able to do that, I have to allow him to do his job. These kinds of decisions are part of his job.”

Councilwoman Chick said she was “appalled” by council members’ efforts to make a deal behind the scenes concerning Parks.

“I believe the citizens of this city want their council members to be busily at work making sure this city is safer,” Chick said. “They do not want us spending our time and energy meddling.”

Despite his colleagues’ comments, Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky said he would not back off his efforts in support of Parks.

Last week, Yaroslavsky, along with fellow Councilmen Nate Holden, John Ferraro and Richard Alatorre, drafted a plan that would allow Parks to continue working at his current pay and salary, even though he would be demoted to the lower rank of deputy chief.

The council members argued that Parks, who has been with the department for nearly 30 years, had been treated unfairly. Parks has until later this month to decide whether to take the demotion or quit.

“Nobody is trying to tell Chief Williams that he has to have Parks as assistant chief,” Yaroslavsky said. “All we have talked about is the possibility of compensating Parks at his current salary at a lower job.”

Rep. Maxine Waters, meanwhile, has sent a letter to Los Angeles Police Commissioner Enrique Hernandez Jr. asking him to intervene on Park’s behalf.

“Bernard Parks has given 30 years of his life to this city and particularly to this Police Department,” wrote Waters (D-Los Angeles). “To see him unceremoniously demoted and cast aside, without any recognition of his record of services and accomplishment, is painful.”