Is This Really Who the L.A.P.D. Wants to Name Its New Building After?

I cram to understand a lot of the madness that goes on in L.A., and today is no different.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Commission is going to hold a hearing regarding whether or not to recommend to keep the L.A.P.D.s new Administration Center named after Chief William H. Parker.

Former Police Chief, turned City Councilmember Bernard Parks, offered a motion, which was passed out of committee, to keep the current name of Parker Center--and then I picked up my face off of the floor and gained my composure.

Sidenote: The above action was and could still be a strong contender for my Negro Please Award. I like Parks and all, but I have to keep it real...all is fair in love and politics.

And I quote Parks: "In keeping with the traditional name of our police headquarters we would assure continuity."

The last thing the L.A.P.D. or the City of Los Angeles wants to assure is continuity where the police department is concerned prior to 2005.

Now I may not have been alive to have been abused by the L.A.P.D. of the 50s and 60s, but that doesnt mean that I dont know our police departments colorful history and that of Chief William H. Parker. Lets face it, the L.A.P.D. is not known around the world for their great police work and community relations.

Dim the light and cue video

Now, I ask you again. After voting for change nationwide in November, does Los Angeles really want to keep the name Parker Center for the L.A.P.D.s Administration Center? And if we do, we need to come up off of using Obamas change slogan because were nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.

Contrary to misguided popular belief, its not at the national level here change starts but at the local level, in particular at the site of the new police administration center.

As much community relations work that todays L.A.P.D. is doing to turn around its very tattered image, it makes no sense to want to hold onto the name of one if its most notoriously racist leaders.

Today its Parker Center, tomorrow its Darryl Gates Boulevard. Lets nip this in the bud right now.

And the last time I checked we had three, count em--, three, Black city councilmembers...

And while were at it, lets give both the council and police commission some suggestions on possible names, starting with the late Deputy Chief Kenneth O. Garner.

Garner Centerit has a nice ring to it. I like it!

garner-center

I'm just saying...

Now if they just have to name this building after someone white, because sometimes they do, lets just be honest...I am not against the idea of naming it after the current Chief, William Bratton. But again, thats only if

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• L.A.P.D.
• Chief William H. Parker
• Bernard Parks Sr.
• Los Angeles
• Jasmyne Canick

[tony6194]

long live William H. Parker!!!!!!!!!

[kettenhund54]

Oh come on, Parker was a product of his times. Everybody on here is judging the guy by 2011 standards. He was no different than most American municipal leaders in 1965. That's the truth. From 1920 though 1949 LAPD made Chicago PD blush it was so corrupt. Parker cleaned up that mess . THAT is what Parker deserves to be remembered for. YES name that building after Parker, he deserves that honor!

[kettenhund54]

OK then let's name it Webb Center after Jack Webb of Dragnet fame. He immortalized the LAPD.

[kettenhund54]

@TheDarkestStar, really? then I guess Abe Lincoln could also be considered a racist motherfucker right? He was no different than Parker, a product of his times.

[jtrack37]

@clev9980 That's okay. Because the last time I checked it was you people being driven out of everywhere.. The great white flight???? duh.

[jtrack37]

@kettenhund54 You sound stupid. That'd be like me saying "Oh come on, in 104 AD it was all right for the kings to sleep 11yr old girls. Stop judging by today's standard".

[TheDarkestStar1]

@kettenhund54 That does not excuse him being a racist motherfucker.

[clev9980]

The blacks complaining about white male police....but the hispanics were the ones that ran most of the blacks out of los angeles !!!!

[pressbox1492]

@tony6194 one of the greatest cheifs ever!

[sudaev]

@kettenhund54 - Most all of what you said is true, although I disagree that LAPD in '20-'49 was worse than Chicago PD in terms of corruption. Even at their worst, LAPD in those days was still better than those other departments.

[kettenhund54]

@eggsparker Rioters ARE monkeys in a zoo!

[kettenhund54]

@sudaev Yeah these guys don't want the truth get in the way of their preconceived ideas. It's a Black barbershop what do you expect?