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BILL: an LACP community column
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My Mom has
problems with gangs, and the police treat her nasty
July 20th
Hello, I'm writhing this e-mail for my Mom.
Her name is [name withheld by LACP] and [she] resides in Los Angeles.
My Mom has had quite a few problems with gangs. When she calls the
police they talk to her very nasty and don't give her right answers.
Just recently she had [a] young gang member run into her house and
the police said that wasn't a crime.
Also, one report stated that my Mom sprayed mace into this gang
members' face, [and] the second report did not mention this at all.
Please [get] my mother someone to help her. My Mom is almost 70
yrs old and if this kind of stuff keeps happening she's going to
have a heart attack.
By the way, she did not spray anything into anyone's eyes/face.
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Reply: from Bill Murray - LACP.org - LA Community Policing
Re: My Mom has problems with gangs, and the police treat
her nasty
Dear Friend:
You're right. Everyone deserves to have a level of service from
officers that is respectful and courteous. While I cannot comment
on your Mom's case specifically, I can assure you that the LAPD
has a long standing record of training its cops to treat each community
member with dignity.
The Department takes all such complaints seriously.
Commanding officers insist the subordinates on their staffs interact
with the public politely, but recognize there are occasions when
inappropriate behavior and simple misunderstandings will occur.
That's why there's a "Discipline System" at the Department … a system
that's currently under review at the instruction of the Police Commission.
It's being revised to simplify, streamline and speed up the process
of getting to the bottom of complaints.
But already there are a number of steps in place that can and should
be taken in cases where an officer has overstepped his or her bounds,
and it's the right of every resident to pursue a variety of actions,
depending on the severity of the incident.
These range from a situation like the one you've mentioned first,
talking "very nasty," to far more serious allegations of misconduct,
such as an inappropriate use of force.
Every local Community Police Station, also known as a Division,
will have complaint forms available for the public at their front
desks. You can also speak to supervisory personnel at any time,
and he or she will help you out.
Because of recent revisions to the Discipline System that have already
been instituted, the cases that involve discourtesy can often be
dealt with almost immediately by the Division's commanding officer,
usually a Captain. It may be the officer needs a simple "talking
to" or he or she may need additional training, but it's estimated
about a third of the time complaints will now be able to be resolved
at the local level within a few days.
You can contact ANY Los Angeles Police Department Community Police
Station, regardless of where in the city the incident occurred.
More serious allegations, because of their nature, will be reviewed
at the Division level first, but then will be passed on to Parker
Center.
Again, depending on the type of misconduct, there are several possible
courses of action.
LAPD has a new Professional Standards Bureau, formerly know as Internal
Affairs. The Bureau is headed by Deputy Chief Michael Berkow, most
recently the Chief of the Irvine Police Department, a man Chief
Bratton selected in mid April for this position because of his outstanding
reputation for reforming numerous police agencies, often targeting
municipal corruption.
Then too, the Police Commission has an independent staff headed
by the Department's recently appointed new Inspector General, André
Birotte. Serving as the Police Commission's investigative arm, the
Inspector General oversees the handling of complaints of officer
misconduct, monitors the discipline process, conducts special investigations
and projects, and fulfills the obligations created by the Department
of Justice Consent Decree.
The most serious allegations, if substantiated, will be turned over
to the legal system itself, such as has happened recently in Inglewood
(which I refer to only as a current obvious example - the case does
not involve LAPD).
Rest assured the Police Commission, Chief and commanding officers
all insist on the highest professional standards from the employees
of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Yours in service,
Bill Murray
LA Community Policing
....... "Community Policing ...
it's everyone's issue"
PS: May I also take this opportunity to draw your attention to an
additional form available at all Community Police Stations as well
as online through the Inspector General. This is the Commendation
Form, by which you can compliment an officer who has served you
well. Your comments will be reviewed by the concerned commanding
officer and the commended employee, and will become a permanent
part of his or her record.
Please take the opportunity to say thank you to an LAPD officer
whenever you feel it's appropriate. A minute of your time, and a
few kind words, can go along way towards letting an officer (and
the command staff) know they are appreciated.
ASK BILL
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