SACRAMENTO — Two state lawmakers on Thursday said the commissioner of the California Highway Patrol should resign after a series of problems they said illustrates a lack of leadership.

The legislators, a Republican and a Democratic, criticized Commissioner Mike Brown over several problems that have plagued the CHP during his tenure. Those include a spike in suicides among officers, faulty state contracts and questionable use of state-owned equipment.

“Clearly, the problem is leadership at the top,” said Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles.

During a news conference, Romero and state Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, said they wanted Brown to resign. If he doesn’t, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should fire him, they said.

Schwarzenegger appointed Brown, a 30-year CHP employee, in September 2004. The governor issued a statement Thursday supporting him.

Spokesman Aaron McLear said the governor has asked Brown to work with legislators to correct problems with the highway patrol.

“The governor fully supports Commissioner Brown and is confident that he is working to keep California safe,” McLear said.

Several law enforcement organizations and some other lawmakers also defended Brown, praising him for what they see as a quick response to fix problems in the agency.

Romero and Garcia also sent a request for an audit of the CHP to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, which will consider it next month.

“We need to point to one facet of this commissioner, and I would say that would be gross inefficiency as the manager of an organization,” Garcia said.

Among problems cited by the lawmakers:

• A suicide rate among officers that is 7.5 times higher than the national average for the general population.

• A no-bid contract for nearly 10,000 new handguns that have not performed as promised. Most recently, a key part failed during training, forcing more than 3,000 guns to be repaired.

• Alleged misconduct by command officers, including one assistant chief suspected of driving drunk, others accused of sexual harassment and Brown’s use of a state-owned aircraft.

Brown has no intention of resigning and welcomes a state audit, CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader said.

“Each of those allegations, as it has arisen, has been addressed,” she said.