LOS ANGELES (AP) - A three-decade veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department who is credited with cleaning up the image of the scandal-plagued Rampart Division was selected by the mayor Tuesday to head the police force.

Deputy Chief Charlie Beck said he was humbled that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa selected him to succeed William Bratton, who decreased crime and improved race relations during his seven-year tenure.

Beck would become the city's 55th police chief if the City Council approves the mayor's selection, as expected.

``Chief Bratton did a tremendous job of building a team,'' Beck said. ``My team is not the same as his, but it is made of the same cloth, and it will achieve the same results.''

Beck began his LAPD career as a reserve officer in 1975 and rose through the ranks to become deputy chief three years ago. He currently is in charge of detectives.

Bratton left the department for a private consulting job three years before the expiration of his second term. He indicated he wanted a department insider to replace him. All three finalists fit the bill: Beck, First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell and Deputy Chief Michel Moore.

Beck could be expected to continue two of Bratton's priorities: community outreach and a crackdown on gangs.

``Chief Beck has been the leader within the LAPD in changing our approach to the way we address gangs and youth violence,'' Villaraigosa said. ``He understands that you can't solve the gang problem just by locking up every kid, that we must use a comprehensive approach that includes tough enforcement while getting at the root causes that drive youths to gangs in the first place.''

However, Beck will face a challenge maintaining morale since the city's financial crisis means officers are facing a contract that offers no pay raises.

In 2003, Bratton appointed Beck captain of the Rampart Division, which was struggling with fallout from a 1999 scandal that uncovered corruption in its anti-gang unit.

Observers credited him with burnishing the division's image, in part by pushing community outreach efforts.

Beck's appointment was welcomed by the police officers union.

Beck is ``a consummate professional'' who is well-suited for the job, Los Angeles Police Protective League President Paul M. Weber said in a statement. ``We're confident that Chief Beck has the leadership skills to uphold the LAPD's position as one of the nation's premier law enforcement agencies.''

Beck comes from a law enforcement family. His father, George Beck, is a retired deputy chief. His daughter, Brandi Scimone, is a patrol officer in the Hollywood area; his son, Martin, is in the Police Academy; and his wife, Cindy Beck is a retired Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy.

During Bratton's tenure, the LAPD hired more officers; got a new headquarters; enacted court-ordered reforms and saw the end of eight years of federal oversight, and at least partially healed a breach with the city's black community stemming from decades of perceived police racism.

The force has increased by more than 800 officers since 2002 to its highest-ever level of about 10,000.

11/03/09 14:58 © Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.