William H. Parker (police officer)
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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, the Parker Center, was named after him. Soon after becoming an LAPD officer, Parker was sent to war. There he was injured and received a purple heart. As soon as he returned home he was re-assigned to basic patrol status with the LAPD. 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 of the 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.
Parker is still highly esteemed by some older officers and retired LAPD officers, who claim that he provided effective leadership.
[edit] Trivia
Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek, worked for a time as an LAPD officer under Parker. Known for his emotionless, relentlessly analytical style of management, Parker was said to have served as the model for Mr. Spock.
The term "Thin Blue Line", which suggests that an over-stretched police force is all that separates society from a descent into chaos, was coined by Parker.[1]
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[edit] References
| Police appointments | ||
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| Preceded by William A. Worton |
Chief of LAPD 1950–1966 |
Succeeded by Thad F. Brown |
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