City’s First Police Watchdog Resigns Post

Under pressure from the Los Angeles Police Commission, Inspector General Katherine Mader announced Tuesday that she will resign, ending months of squabbles with her bosses but throwing into question the panel’s commitment to the civilian watchdog position.

Mader’s surprise resignation, effective Jan. 1, was announced as at least some of her Police Commission bosses were building a case to fire her, sources said.

“Having spent the last 2 1/2 years building the office of the inspector general, Ms. Mader has stated that she feels the moment is right for the commission to transition the post to new leadership,” according to a Police Commission statement released late Tuesday.

Attorney Deirdre Hill, a former Police Commission president, has been selected as the board’s interim LAPD watchdog.

Tuesday’s move renewed questions about whether the Police Department’s civilian oversight board has wavered in its commitment to monitor complaints against police officers. Concerns of an out-of-control department were raised in the early 1990s, and the inspector general position was created largely to reassure the public that the department would be held in check and that wayward officers would be disciplined.

In fact, to some LAPD observers, the inspector general job was one of the most important reforms to come from the landmark 1991 Christopher Commission report, written in the aftermath of the Rodney G. King beating. The position, as proposed, was supposed to be the public’s window into the LAPD’s discipline system.

Although the commission’s statement praised Mader for her work and many accomplishments, it was well-known within police and city circles that the board, particularly commission President Edith Perez, was not happy with Mader.

According to sources, some commissioners were troubled by Mader’s strong-willed, assertive and sometimes clumsy style, as well as the quality of her work. Sources also said Perez and Executive Director Joseph A. Gunn openly disliked Mader.

In recent weeks, the turmoil between the board and Mader heightened, with Perez sending a memo to Chief Bernard C. Parks that appeared to sharply limit the inspector general’s powers.

That memo, which commissioners retracted, was a dramatic turnabout from the way it was envisioned by the Christopher Commission when it recommended creation of the post.

Mark R. Steinberg, who served as deputy general counsel to the Christopher Commission, praised Mader.

“Being the first person in any job is a challenge,” he said. “Being the first person in the job of the LAPD’s inspector general is something more than that. Kathy Mader established both an office and a standard for service in that office.”

Another longtime police reform advocate agreed.

“I’m really saddened to hear that she has resigned,” said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California. “She was enormously competent. I think it was her frustration about the role of the position that led to her decision.”

In contrast, news of Mader’s resignation was greeted enthusiastically by some top members of the LAPD, who had complained in recent months about what they believed was her lack of professionalism and untrustworthiness. Late Tuesday, however, command officers declined to comment. Parks would not elaborate on a brief statement praising Mader for her service to the city and expressing support for the position she held.

According to sources, Mader realized in the past day or two that she might not be able to hold on to her job. In an effort to defuse predicted criticism that Mader was being ousted by Perez, Commissioner Bert Boeckmann shared with at least one City Council member some of the commissioners’ determination to fire Mader and the reasons why they intended to do so.

Former commission President Hill will begin working on a part-time basis as early as next week and assume Mader’s duties fulltime Dec. 2. She will keep the job until a permanent replacement can be found.

In a prepared statement, Mader said that when she agreed to become the first inspector general, she knew she had to not only perform in the position but define it.

“Keeping these balls in the air at the same time has been an intellectual challenge,” Mader said. “While from time to time one or the other balls may have seemed close to bouncing, I feel that I and the wonderful people who have worked with me have been able to lay in place some critical benchmarks both as to the structure of the office and as to how the role of the inspector general should be performed.”

She declined to elaborate on her statement.

Sources close to Mader, however, said she felt handcuffed by the commission, which she believed did not want her to probe anything that might make the department or Parks look bad.

Several police reform advocates have questioned the Police Commission’s commitment to the inspector general position and effective oversight of the department.

Because of those concerns, City Councilwoman Laura Chick--chairwoman of the council’s Public Safety Committee--has called for a hearing next month to help clarify the watchdog’s role.

On Tuesday, Chick said Mader “was a very good person to have initiate this position. She performed with great energy and integrity. But the emphasis for me is on the position rather than who is filling it.”

Said one City Hall insider: “There are some members of the commission that see their role as being partners with the chief. They take protecting the chief more seriously than their oversight and scrutinizing role.”

Others, however, sounded a hopeful tone, saying that with the personality conflicts out of the way, the commission might use the inspector general more.

Commissioners said Mader’s departure was no reflection of their support for having a watchdog.

“We have a real commitment to this position,” said Commissioner Gerald L. Chaleff.

Commissioner T. Warren Jackson said Mader’s resignation “was her decision. Nobody pressured her. I’m sure it was a tough decision.” He added that he will miss her, but “maybe none of us will miss the controversy.”

Since taking the job, Mader, a former defense attorney and deputy district attorney, has helped spur positive changes in the LAPD. She was instrumental in changing the way the department handles officers who beat their spouses, tracks citizen complaints and monitors lawsuits against the LAPD.

Along the way, however, she has stepped on toes among the LAPD’s top brass with her blunt, no-nonsense style.

But she also has won several top LAPD officials to her side.

“I hope the person they pick has the courage she had,” said one LAPD captain.

Times staff writer Miles Corwin contributed to this report.