Candidate for
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 8

As Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Bernard C. Parks oversaw the operation of one of the largest major municipal law enforcement agencies in the United States. His responsibilities included the supervision of 9,600 sworn and 3,000 civilian employees who are responsible for public safety in the City of Los Angeles. Chief Parks directed all patrol, investigative and administrative operations and administered an annual budget in excess of $1.3 billion. He directly reported to the Board of Police Commissioners and had regular contact and dialogue with the Mayor and all fifteen City Council members.

Also known as the Chief Administrative Officer and General Manager of the Department, the Chief is responsible for the effective and efficient utilization of the Police Department's financial and human resources and is accountable to all the community members of the greater Los Angeles region.

Prior to his appointment to the position as Chief of Police, Chief Parks held other executive assignments which included that of Assistant Chief. In that capacity, he was the Director of the Office of Operations and was responsible for the largest command entity within the Department, with approximately 85% of the organization's resources under his direct command. The commanding officers of all eighteen Community Police Stations within the City reported to him through the four Operations Bureaus. Chief Parks was also a Deputy Chief and Commanding Officer of the Bureau of Special Investigations and directed the activities of specialized divisions such as Internal Affairs Group, Anti-Terrorist Division and Organized Crime and Intelligence Division. Prior to that assignment, Chief Parks was the Commanding Officer of Operations-Central Bureau which included Rampart, Northeast, Hollenbeck, Newton and Central Community Police Stations. Preceding that assignment, Chief Parks was the Commanding Officer of Operations-Headquarters Bureau which consisted of a number of specialized detective and enforcement entities such as Robbery-Homicide Division, Financial Crimes Division, Narcotics Division and Metropolitan Division, home of the Department's elite SWAT platoon. During his career, Chief Parks also commanded a number of other assignments including Support Services Bureau, 77th Street Area and as the Assistant Commanding Officer in Operations-South Bureau and Personnel and Training Bureau.

Outside the police department, Chief Parks plays an active role in a number of civic, business and professional organizations, some of which include:

Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police

Member, National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives

Past President, Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County

Member, Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates

Founding Member, Oscar Joel Bryant Association

President, Drug Abuse Resistance Education, California

Founding Board Member, Los Angeles Police Department Reserve Foundation

Former Commissioner, Judicial Evaluation Commission, California State Bar Association

Board Member, Challenger Boys and Girls Club

Member, Police Executive Research Forum

Former Commissioner, California Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission

Having always placed high value on education and academic excellence, Chief Parks was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Management from Pepperdine University and completed his graduate work at the University of Southern California where he received his Master's degree in Public Administration. In addition to his formal education, Chief Parks has a number of other academic achievements which include:

CompStat Conference, New York Police Department (1997) - Certificate of Completion

National Executive Institute, Federal Bureau of Investigation (1993) - Certificate of Graduation.

Police Executive Research Forum Conference (1955 to Present) - Contemporary Issues

Monthly Executive Management Seminars - University of Southern California (1987 to Present) - Contemporary Issues

International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference (1979 to Present)

Los Angeles Police Department Staff Officers' Annual Retreat (1980 to Present) Contemporary Issues

Peace Officers Standards and Training Executive Development Course (1984) Certificate of Graduation

University of Southern California - Management Policy Institute (1983, six-month concentrated course); Certificate of Graduation

Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (1976) - Certificate of Graduation (First Black officer in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department to be selected)

Loyola University (1974) # Interpersonal/Interracial Relationships

University of Southern California (1973 - 1976) - Master of Public Administration

Pepperdine University (1970-1976) - Bachelor of Science Degree

Chief Parks is an accomplished speaker and has made scores of presentations throughout the United States and abroad concerning contemporary criminal justice issues and practices. He is one of the nation's leading authorities on training and developing in leadership and management.

Chief Parks was born in Beaumont, Texas, on December 7, 1943. He resides in the Eight District of the City of Los Angeles.