Williams Seeks Unity From LAPD : Police: Chief-designate says he’ll listen to a variety of opinions from his officers.

Los Angeles Police Chief-designate Willie L. Williams, who will soon take the helm of the city’s troubled police force, pledged Tuesday to listen to a wide variety of opinions from rank-and-file officers as well as from his command staff.

“We’re going to talk with each other. We’re going to have the right to disagree with each other and not be buried in the far corners of the city,” he said.

Williams’ comments came during his keynote speech at the American Jewish Committee’s annual meeting at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where he received a standing ovation from the audience of more than 700 guests, which included a good share of Los Angeles’ power brokers.

In a deliberative tone clearly aimed at police and politicians in the audience, Williams called on the department’s more than 8,000 members to pull together after a year of divisiveness to help the city heal its racial and ethnic divisions.

“The police must recognize that we are part of government and not apart from government, and we must work in the spirit of cooperation among ourselves first before we can serve the community,” he said.

Williams will be spending the week meeting with rank-and-file and top LAPD officials.

Before the speech and $125-a-plate dinner, Williams appeared relaxed and confident as he mingled with a crowd that included politicians, Hollywood moguls, diplomats, business leaders and several top-ranking Los Angeles police officials.

The guest list included Urban League President John Mack, state Controller Gray Davis, Southern Christian Leadership Conference Director Joe Hicks, City Council members Joy Picus, Joel Wachs and Marvin Braude, as well as diplomats from Canada, Germany, Poland and Argentina.

Although he has met with numerous groups since being chosen to replace Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, his remarks before the Jewish group were Williams’ first major address in Los Angeles.

“This has been a hot item at City Hall,” said Cindy Miscikowski, a top aide to Braude. “Everyone wants to welcome him and hear him say, ‘Let’s get started.’ ”

At a pre-dinner reception, Williams was greeted warmly by Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker, one of several top LAPD officials who attended the dinner.

“Welcome to our city. You’re going to make it better,” said Kroeker, one of six finalists Williams beat for the chief’s job. Williams replied, “ We’re going to make it better--that’s the byword.”

At one point, film producer Gilbert Cates asked Williams what he would do if Gates remained at his post until July 15, as he once hinted he might. Williams responded, “I think I (would be) going to the beach for a couple of weeks.”

At the dinner, Williams sat at the head table with Mayor Tom Bradley and Stanley K. Sheinbaum, president of the Police Commission.

Bradley was asked whether Williams’ appearance with members of the city’s political Establishment might cause suspicions that he will become a political puppet but he dismissed the idea.

“I think you’ll find that he’ll be speaking to people all across this city,” the mayor said.

In his prayer before dinner, Rabbi Stephen Robbins of Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills offered what he later explained was an intentional pun referring to Williams’ upcoming replacement of Gates. “We stand at an open door--where we are passing through one gate and leaving behind another,” he said.

Founded in 1906, the American Jewish Committee calls itself the “pioneer human relations agency in the country” and promotes pluralism while combating anti-Semitism and other bigotry.