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 theLos Angeles City Council from the8th district | |
| In office July 1, 2003 – July 1, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Ridley-Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Marqueece Harris-Dawson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1943-12-07)December 7, 1943 (age 81) 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 |
Bernard C. Parks (born December 7, 1943) is an Americanpolitician who served as a member of theLos Angeles City Council, representing the8th district inSouth Los Angeles from 2003 to 2015. A member of theDemocratic Party, Parks served asChief of theLos Angeles Police Department from August 1997 to May 2002.
Parks is a graduate of Daniel Murphy High School and attendedLos Angeles City College and received a bachelor's degree fromPepperdine University. He earned a Master's Degree inpublic administration from theUniversity of Southern California.[citation needed]
During his tenure, the LAPD was rocked by acorruption and police brutality scandal involving the eliteC.R.A.S.H. anti-gang unit of theRampart Division in the overwhelmingly LatinoPico-Union andWestlake districts.[citation needed] The Police Commission, under Commission PresidentRick J. Caruso did not recommend Parks for reappointment as police chief. Parks was succeeded as chief byWilliam Bratton.[1]
In 2003, Parks won the seat on theLos Angeles City Council forCouncil District 8 representingSouth Los Angeles.[citation needed] He also unsuccessfully ran for the post of mayor in the2005 elections, coming fourth in the primary. In 2008, Parks unsuccessfully sought to succeedYvonne Brathwaite Burke on theLos Angeles County Board of Supervisors, losing toMark Ridley-Thomas in arunoff 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]
| Police appointments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department 1997 – 2002 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Los Angeles City Councilmember, 8th district July 1, 2003 – July 1, 2015 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
