The latest Police Commission Meeting was held last night on the campus of the LA Valley College in Valley Glen. Bobbie Logan attended the meeting, representing LA Community Policing. You may have seen her wearing her LACP.org hat ...

The five volunteer members of the Board of Police Commissioners have civilian oversight over LAPD. They hold Regular and / or Special meetings on almost a weekly basis, usually in Parker Center, but sometimes out in the community. The Los Angeles Police Commission held this meeting in the Valley to hear and address local issues. Community members were encouraged to attend and share their opinions and comments. Here's Ms. Logan's report:

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REPORT - BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2003 - 6:30 pm

Monarch Hall
Los Angeles Valley College
5800 Fulton Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91401

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Report - Special Police Commission Meeting, March 11, 2003
by Bobbie Logan

The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners held their weekly meeting at a very special venue Tuesday night, March 11th, at Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen.

We here at LA Community Policing would like to thank college President Tyree Wieder for hosting the meeting and for the school's warm welcome to all who attended. Monarch Hall was filled with at least 500 community members from all walks of life, a good sign that so many people care about what is going on in their city.

The Crime Statistics Report was in progress as I arrived, with Chief Bratton highlighting the fact that 470 new officers have been hired since July 1st of last year and that a budget proposal is being submitted to keep all the Police Academy classes full.

LAPD is also making a very, very strong effort to ensure these classes reflect the total population of the city of Los Angeles by recruiting accordingly. Chief Bratton pointed out that we have a "newly energized police force" and new leadership changes throughout the city, and he thanked the Valley for having this meeting.

Commissioner Cunningham pointed out that the homicide rate in the city of Los Angeles is going down and says that is the true test when you consider the success of the Department. The Board of Commissioners continues to support the Chief and the members are seeing verifiable proof of the changes and improvements within the Department.

Under the agenda category of Pending Projects, Commissioner Ochi briefly covered the second installment of the discipline system. The changes are moving forward in order that more complete distinctions are made between minor and serious complaints.

The Commission is also looking at some issues that may require target changes, such as Captains being more available for supervision of lower ranking officers.

Chief Bratton noted there had been a reduction in complaints since the beginning of the year. Commissioner Ochi stated that changes in the discipline system, and the resulting reduced complaints, was a big moral booster, and the Commission is very pleased about that.

David Cunningham introduced Council member Tom LaBonge who thanked the Commission for their services to the city of Los Angeles.

LaBonge said he appreciated they'd come to the Valley -- with a focus on his area's traffic issues, the success of the Senior Lead Officer program and the concentrated effort on behalf of the LAPD to reduce prostitution and street racing.

A brief acknowledgment was given to the Los Angeles County Human Resources President, who received a big round of applause.

As the meeting continued there was a discussion of the Parker Center relocation project.

The Parker Center "master plan" is making progress with many possibilities being considered by the Facilities Committee.

The Bureau of Engineering will completely review the cost and time feasibilities of remodeling Parker Center (but with it's occupational health issues this is unlikely). Also being considered is what it will take to either build a new facility altogether or have the Department move into a new, already existing structure.

Several architectural firms have been approached to submit plans and proposals, as all of these issues are still in the working stages.

Commissioner Boeckmann awarded Special Presentations to various community members for their outstanding contributions towards community policing. Commissioner Boeckmann noted that he knew at least 100 community members in attendance, and relayed his deep appreciation for their seemingly tireless efforts in keeping our City safe.

Many local programs were represented, with community members that participate in such things as graffiti removal, volunteer surveillance, Neighborhood Watch and helping at-risk youth.

One program, "New Directions for Youth" has been assisting the City since 1976, and has provided opportunities for more than 80,000 at risk youth and their families through numerous intervention programs.

Their services are provided to anyone regardless of gang affiliation and / or arrest records, and include after summer employment for youth, neighborhood beautification, school enrichment programs for girls between 9 and 15, and a powerful neighborhood graffiti removal program which eliminates 10,000 square feet of graffiti each month.

The Sunland Neighborhood Watch, established in 2001, was honored as one of the most fast forming and organized community groups in the Sunland area. They work closely with their Senior Lead Officer from the Foothill Community Police Station and they've a motto, "We All Need to Make Our Neighborhood a Better Place." The group has accomplished numerous neighborhood beautification projects and the arrests of many drug dealers.

A Special Presentation was awarded to several police officers for their heroic efforts to save the life of a woman shot by a man who in turn took his own life. The officers were able to keep the victim alive until paramedics arrived even though she suffered a terrible amount of blood loss. Both Chief Bratton and Commissioner Boeckmann congratulated the officers and the attendees gave them a huge round of applause.

Following this various Regular Agenda Items were covered, including the Department's weekly written report on outstanding non-compliant Consent Decree items and solutions, the possible purchase of the Portable Officer Data Device System for field data capture, and the Department's report for Valley Bureau as presented by its commanding officer, Deputy Chief Ron Bergmann.

Chief Bergmann discussed the prevention of gang activity, quality of life crimes, traffic problems, particularly around schools, and neighborhood problems especially around high schools.

Although gang crime is up 20% homicides are down, with four gang injunctions in place -- two in Van Nuys, one in Devonshire, and one in Foothill. Valley Bureau has some of the highest numbers of arrests through curfew and truancy sweeps in the City.

Valley Bureau is also doing a lot of probation and parole checks in partnership with the Sheriff's Department to arrest violators who commit crimes in the City but live in areas like Palmdale.

According to Chief Bergmann, "The biggest thing we have done in the Valley is we have formed the San Fernando Valley Coalition on Gangs." This, he explained, is a partnership that's been formed between the Department, the community, a host of community-based organizations, parole, probation and other law enforcement agencies such as the Sheriff's Department.

As the Chief said, "You name it, they're part of our coalition." The effort has been going on for about a year and a half addressing both prevention and intervention.

Deputy Chief Bergmann next called attention to fighting graffiti through the Valley's "Community Tagger Task Force." All five Divisions in Valley Bureau have at least one officer working full time on graffiti. The task force concentrates not only on just going out and removing graffiti, it's actually working with graffiti artists to build cases against violators in order to prosecute them. They've made a number of good arrests in the San Fernando Valley because of the people working on the task force.

Chief Bergmann said one of the biggest problems in Valley Bureau is prostitution, with 477 arrests in the San Fernando Valley last year. Massage parlors (also known as "aroma therapy clinics" as pointed out by the Chief to the laughter of the audience) and streetwalkers are the major problem.

Street racing is another issue that's difficult to resolve, with current strategies not being very effective. But, as he concluded, Deputy Chief Bergmann said the City Council has been very receptive to, and is helping spearhead, some of the Department's ideas, such as vehicles actually being forfeit if involved in street racing.

The meeting concluded with the Public Comment period, where anyone is allowed to speak -- but only eight community members approached the microphone.

The common thread, as presented by nearly everyone, was their deep appreciation for the Commission to meet in their neighborhood and for the reinstatement of the Senior Lead Officer Program.

Many voiced their support for the new Chief and the work he has done so far with high hopes for the future of the Department.

One speaker, a Neighborhood Watch representative, voiced his concern for the need for more officers and for the training of captains when they are promoted or transferred.

A woman requested a mandatory permit fee be required for anyone with a home alarm system and heavy fines for false alarms (but lower fees for permits).

Another lady wanted to know the status of the pursuit policy and Commissioner Ochi gave her a quick update.

Without exception, everyone expressed a warm welcome for Chief Bratton, and voiced their support for both he and the Board of Police Commissioners.

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For additional information on any of these
Police Commission items please contact:

Tami Catania
Police Commission Staff

to send an email: lapdtkc@aol.com

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