Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Wednesday, September 11, 2002

 

Page 8

 

Commission Not Yet Ready to Pick Chief Finalists—Caruso

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Police Commission President Rick J. Caruso said yesterday that the panel was narrowing down the list of candidates for police chief but would likely not have its final three by the end of the day.

“It may go on for a number of weeks or it may happen tomorrow,” Caruso told reporters. “The main thing that this commission cares about is choosing the best chief for this city.”

Caruso said he had started making phone calls to references listed by the 13 candidates for police chief, and had just spoken to former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo morning about former New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. He also said the city was on its second round of background checks for candidates not already affiliated with the LAPD, but would not employ “extraordinary measures” such as lie detectors.

Caruso said he hoped the commission could narrow its list down to six to eight candidates by the end of the day yesterday, but he acknowledged that it was difficult to predict.

“We’re not concerned about rushing into a decision,” he said.

The commission was presented with a list of 13 candidates for police chief at the end of August. It is charged with choosing the top three candidates and presenting them to Mayor James Hahn for final selection.

 

Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company