Candidate for
Mayor; City of Los Angeles

For 38 years, Bernard Parks served his community as a police officer. Beginning his career with the police department at a time when patrol cars were just recently integrated, Bernard Parks rose through the ranks of one of the nations largest municipal law enforcement agencies to become Chief of Police in 1997.

As Police Chief, Bernard Parks implemented some of the most rigorous police reforms ever proposed in the history of the police department including the institution of an officer accountability policy. Parks also made it easier for the community to file complaints against problem officers by streamlining the Citizen Complaint System. Under Chief Parks the City of Los Angeles saw homicides fall by 45%, rape assault drop by nearly 20% and robbery decline by over 45%.

Councilmember Bernard C. Parks was elected into office on March of 2003 as the representative for the Eighth District, which includes the communities of: Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Leimert Park, West Adams, Hyde Park Jefferson Park, and Chesterfield Square.

As Councilmember, his duties include overseeing 20 square miles of the city of Los Angeles and serving roughly 250,000 people. He serves as Chair of the Budget and Finance and Ad-Hoc Committees, and the Budget - Tax Advisory Committee. Councilmember Parks sits on several other boards and committees where he provides leadership in a variety of capacities.

Councilmember Parks has fought to bring an NFL team back to Los Angeles, presented Plan (E-1); an alternative plan to the existing modernization plan for LAX and delivered the city's budget on time as the Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. As a result of his work in leading that panel, the city was recently notified that it has a 3-Star*** bond rating.

Bernard Parks continues to focus on bringing more business and market-rate housing to the Eighth District. His economic development efforts include the recently-approved Santa Rosalia project, the proposed Vermont/Manchester shopping and business center and Marlton Square, which is currently in progress.

Throughout his career with the police department and as a Counclimember, Bernard Parks has kept close ties to his community. Aside from patrolling the streets of the 8th District as a young officer, Parks dedicated many volunteer years to youth activities in the district. He coached Baldwin Hills Youth Football for 10 years and mentored the likes of Warren Moon and many other kids who grew to become successfully community business Leaders.

Bernard and his wife, Bobbie, still remain committed to community groups such as the Challengers Boys & Girls Club, the Los Angeles Urban League and the Brotherhood Crusade.

Bernard C. Parks received his bachelor of Science degree from Pepperdine University and his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. Bernard Parks and his wife, Bobbie, have been married for 35 years and are the proud parents of four children: Felicia, Michelle, Trudy and Bernard Jr.