LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today reiterated its call for an open meeting of the Police Commission regarding the request for reappointment by Chief of Police Bernard Parks. While the ACLU/SC has not taken a position on Chief Parks' reappointment, the affiliate is in agreement with the Chief on the issue of an open Police Commission meeting.

"The people of this city deserve to know how their Chief of Police will be judged by the Commission," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU/SC. "Not only is an open meeting sound public policy, but this issue is of vital importance to the community. Chief Parks has waived his right to a confidential job review and the commission should grant his request to open the meeting to the public."

On Thursday, March 28, the Chief requested an open meeting with the Police Commission and waived his right to privacy. Since then various groups with diverging views on the Chief's reappointment have weighed in on his behalf in support of an open meeting.

"The need for an open meeting is particularly pressing, given that these deliberations take place in the aftermath of one of the largest police corruption scandals in our Nation's history," wrote Dan Tokaji, ACLU/SC Staff Attorney in a letter to the commission sent today. "At a time when the need for public accountability of the Los Angeles Police Department is at its greatest, it is unfortunate that the Police Commission would choose to deliberate the reappointment of the City's police chief behind a veil of secrecy."

Although the ACLU/SC has been critical of Chief Parks' performance, particularly in the areas of reform and civilian review, it is in full agreement with the Chief that the hearings should be open to the public. The ACLU/SC has continually cited the "culture of secrecy" surrounding the LAPD as one of the main obstacles to true police reform. By refusing to open the meeting to the public, the organization believes, the Police Commission will be contributing to the very culture that has hindered reform efforts time and time again.

"To conduct the deliberations over Chief Parks' reappointment in closed session is to continue an unfortunate pattern, prevalent throughout the Department's troubled history of resisting public accountability," continued Tokaji. "It is precisely such an insistence upon secrecy rather than openness that has created an atmosphere in which police misconduct - such as that prevalent in the Rampart Division - can fester unchecked, resulting in a widespread loss of public trust in those who are sworn to serve and protect."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today reiterated its call for an open meeting of the Police Commission regarding the request for reappointment by Chief of Police Bernard Parks. While the ACLU/SC has not taken a position on Chief Parks' reappointment, the affiliate is in agreement with the Chief on the issue of an open Police Commission meeting.
"The people of this city deserve to know how their Chief of Police will be judged by the Commission," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU/SC. "Not only is an open meeting sound public policy, but this issue is of vital importance to the community. Chief Parks has waived his right to a confidential job review and the commission should grant his request to open the meeting to the public."
On Thursday, March 28, the Chief requested an open meeting with the Police Commission and waived his right to privacy. Since then various groups with diverging views on the Chief's reappointment have weighed in on his behalf in support of an open meeting.
"The need for an open meeting is particularly pressing, given that these deliberations take place in the aftermath of one of the largest police corruption scandals in our Nation's history," wrote Dan Tokaji, ACLU/SC Staff Attorney in a letter to the commission sent today. "At a time when the need for public accountability of the Los Angeles Police Department is at its greatest, it is unfortunate that the Police Commission would choose to deliberate the reappointment of the City's police chief behind a veil of secrecy."
Although the ACLU/SC has been critical of Chief Parks' performance, particularly in the areas of reform and civilian review, it is in full agreement with the Chief that the hearings should be open to the public. The ACLU/SC has continually cited the "culture of secrecy" surrounding the LAPD as one of the main obstacles to true police reform. By refusing to open the meeting to the public, the organization believes, the Police Commission will be contributing to the very culture that has hindered reform efforts time and time again.
"To conduct the deliberations over Chief Parks' reappointment in closed session is to continue an unfortunate pattern, prevalent throughout the Department's troubled history of resisting public accountability," continued Tokaji. "It is precisely such an insistence upon secrecy rather than openness that has created an atmosphere in which police misconduct ? such as that prevalent in the Rampart Division ? can fester unchecked, resulting in a widespread loss of public trust in those who are sworn to serve and protect."

Fred Okrand, Legal Director Emeritus of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, passed away Monday night after a long illness.

Almost all of Fred's legal career was devoted to the ACLU. While practicing law in the private sector, he served as a volunteer attorney for the affiliate for 21 years. In 1972 he was appointed Legal Director, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. Fred continued as Legal Director Emeritus.

A graduate of UCLA in 1937, Fred received his law degree from USC in 1940. He was counsel for more than 500 reported civil liberties cases. He is best remembered, however, for his groundbreaking ? and highly courageous ? challenge to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Throughout his illness, Fred never stopped working. He was co-counsel on a class action lawsuit, Mochizuki et al v. U.S., on behalf of 2,264 persons of Japanese ancestry who were uprooted from their homes throughout Latin America and forcibly brought to and imprisoned in INS "enemy alien" internment camps in this country. The kidnapings were part of a U.S. government scheme during World War II to use Japanese Latin Americans ? most of whom had never been to Japan ? in civilian prisoner exchanges. Just recently, Fred spoke at a forum on "Civil Liberties and the Need for National Security: What Lessons Can We Learn from the Japanese American Experiences During World War II?"

Honored frequently for his work, Fred was the 1992 Constitutional Rights Foundation/ Los Angeles County Bar Association Lawyer of the Year, the holder of the 1993 "Share the Dream" (Justice) Award of the Japanese American Citizens League, recipient of the Los Angeles Harvard Club's 1979 John Harvard Community Service Award, and the subject of the UCLA oral history project, "Forty Years Defending the Constitution." The ACLU presented Fred with its Lifetime Achievement Award at last year's Law Luncheon; his wife, Mimi, accepted the award to a standing ovation.

Two years ago, Foundation Board member Alan Sieroty established a staff attorney position named in honor of Fred and his long-time partner and fellow-ACLU attorney, Al Wirin.

"I feel so privileged to have worked with Fred. He was always inspiring as well as always being upbeat. He was a fierce advocate who never sought personal glory. Fred was a legal giant. He argued at least four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and was the force behind some of the most significant constitutional challenges in our nation. He will be sorely missed," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.

Fred is survived by his wife, Mimi, and their two sons, Dean and Marc. The family has arranged for a private cremation, after which Fred's ashes will be scattered on the ocean. The ACLU will plan a memorial service after consultation with his family.