William H. Parker (LAPD)

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William H. Parker (June 21, 1902 – July 16, 1966) was a police chief of the Los Angeles, California Police Department. The headquarters for the LAPD, Parker Center, was named after him. He was the longest reigning police chief and served on the force 39 years (starting on August 8, 1927). Parker was originally born in South Dakota. He became police chief on August 9, 1950 and is credited with transforming the LAPD into a world renowned law enforcement agency.

Parker knew how to work the media to his advantage. Through television shows such as Dragnet and a steady stream of good publicity from local newspapers, he was highly admired nationwide until shortly before his death. However, under Parker, the LAPD earned a reputation for brutality, particularly directed towards the African American and Latino communities of Los Angeles. Parker also advocated a smaller police force, believing that fewer officers would mean less corruption. He also cut back on foot patrols in favor of police cars, in the belief that isolating his officers from the streets would reduce opportunities for corruption. While Parker did manage to make slight reductions in police corruption, the vice squad of the LAPD continued to be notoriously corrupt. The novel and film L.A. Confidential provide a fictional depiction ofthe LAPD under Parker.

Parker was said to have employed the Organized Crime and Intelligence Division of the LAPD to keep tabs on politicians and celebrities for purposes of blackmail. The Watts Riots occurred while he was police chief, the result of years of systematic police brutality and harassment of African-Americans in South Central Los Angeles. His handling of the riots discredited him. A severe alcoholic, he died almost a year later at his home in Silver Lake, a neighborhood near Hollywood.

Many of the problems of the LAPD such as racism, brutality, and understaffing, which plagued the department and city in the late 20th and 21st century, have roots in policies pursued by Parker. Nevertheless, he is still highly esteemed by some older officers and retired LAPD officers, who claim that he provided effective leadership.

He is of no relation to Los Angeles based personal injury attorney Larry H. Parker, who is recognized for his television commercials in Southern California and slogan, "We'll fight for you!"

[edit] Trivia

Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, worked for a time as an LAPD officer under Parker. Known for his emotionless, relentlessly analystical style of management, Parker was said to have served as the model for Mr. Spock.

{{end box} William H. Parker while a one time heavy drinker was not the "severe alcoholic" as cited here. Parker had heart disease and swore off alcohol and tobacco years before his death. He did not die at his home as cited, Parker died at a public banquet for the First Marine Division after he gave a rousing speech on policing in America. After receiving his plaque, he returned to his seat and succumbed to a major heart attack. It is inferred that Parker was a racist, he was not. Parker had friction with the Black Community not because he was racist but because many Black leaders criticized the LAPD which was an unforgivable sin in his eyes. Parker's style of policing was that of a legalistic, paramilitary, agency. This style coupled with prevailing social attitudes at the times served to cause tension between the LAPD and minority communities. The LAPD was not desegregated until 1960, White and Black officers worked separately until that time. A determined workaholic, Parker often worked late into the night and went from one public speaking engagement to another. He was a tough leader but not open to change, he refused to allow LAPD officers to wear short sleeved uniform shirts because many officers sported military tattoos that Parker found offensive, officers had to endure 90 degree plus temperatures in long sleeved dark blue woolen shirts.