A formal complaint has been filed against former City Councilman and Police Chief Bernard Parks, accusing him of improperly using the seal of the City of Los Angeles and his Los Angeles Police Department badge in a letter to the judge presiding over the Mark Ridley-Thomas public corruption case.
Acting City Clerk Petty F. Santos sent a letter to Parks, informing him of the complaint and ordering him to immediately cease and desist from using the seal. The complaint has been referred to the City Attorney’s Office for investigation, as it violates the Los Angeles Municipal Code on the unauthorized use of the city seal.
Parks’ letter to the federal judge overseeing Ridley-Thomas’ sentencing requests the maximum penalty for the convicted individual.
In the 2008 race for county supervisor, Parks lost to Ridley-Thomas.
The complaint, signed by community activist Bev Rowe, was received by both the office of U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada and the federal prosecutors handling the case.
Parks, in response to the ethics complaint, stated that the content of his letter to the judge remains significant despite the complaint, emphasizing Ridley-Thomas’ felony conviction and upcoming sentencing.
As Ridley-Thomas faces sentencing on Monday for convictions related to conspiracy, bribery, and fraud, Parks believes that the prosecution’s recommendation of a six-year prison sentence is insufficient. Parks argues that Ridley-Thomas’ colleagues were also victims of his corrupt behavior and calls for the judge to consider the impact on their integrity and public perception.
Parks further criticizes Ridley-Thomas for his refusal to accept responsibility or show remorse and accuses him of using his race to undermine the public’s faith in the judicial process.
The City Clerk’s communication to Parks admonishes him for using the city seal in a manner inconsistent with its intended purpose, citing the Los Angeles Municipal Code. The City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department reserve their rights concerning trademarks and trade dress.
Ridley-Thomas was charged with favoring USC in county contracts while allegedly receiving benefits for his son from the university.
Prosecutors are seeking a six-year prison sentence, while the defense has requested home confinement, community service, and a monetary penalty. If incarceration is necessary, Ridley-Thomas’ lawyers are proposing a sentence ranging from 21 to 27 months.
Ridley-Thomas has had a lengthy political career, serving on the Los Angeles City Council, in the California State Assembly and Senate, and on the Board of Supervisors. His attorneys are appealing the conviction.
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