City Council Approves William Bratton
October 11, 2002

The Los Angeles City Council today voted 14-1 to approve Mayor Hahn's choice, William Bratton, as the LAPD's 54th Chief of Police.

The next Chief will be sworn in during a "Change of Command Ceremony" where Chief Martin Pomeroy will turn over control of the Los Angeles Police Department. The event is tentatively planned to occur at the Police Academy on Monday, October 28th, at 11am. The public will be invited to attend. This will be the culmination of a process set in motion this past Spring, when the Board of Police Commissioners denied then Chief Bernard Parks a second five year term.

William Bratton (AP photo)

Mr. Bratton appeared remarkably refreshed for a man who in just over a week had been taken on a whirlwind tour of the City and gone back and forth to New York City. He'd also reportedly been house hunting.

Obviously the visits to the various communities, and Mr. Bratton's personal meetings with many of the Councilmembers, paid off, as the confirmation hearing proceeded smoothly.

Only Councilman Nate Holden, one of the few who had not had an opportunity to meet with him, pressed Mr. Bratton on his past record ... although a few others placed the Chief-to-be on friendly notice, saying they, and the communities they represent, would be watching.

Among Mr. Holden's concerns was a reference to "racial profiling" in an article in which he understood Mr. Bratton had said he was a proponent.

But according to Mr. Bratton, the quote in the article was out context. He'd been commenting on an often used technique called "stop and frisk" where officers are allowed to stop people they suspected of wrong-doing. He pointed out that a "stop and frisk" policy is legal, and he still believes in its effectiveness as a tool to combat crime.

Later Councilman Holden asked Mr. Bratton if he still believed in a "zero tolerance" policing policy, one which he promoted in Europe after leaving NYPD.

The applicant said there would be a zero tolerance platform to his leadership because he'll have zero tolerance for any police officer that breaks the law. Law enforcement officers found to be involved with drugs for example will be dealt with harshly.

But, for the most part, the other Councilmembers confined their comments to the impressions he'd made on them during the past week, and most sought to confirm Mr. Bratton's recent promises.

Principal among these was the Chief designee's plan to continue, shore up and improve the City's commitment to community based policing.

Special mention was made several times to the importance of responding to each of the neighborhood's distinct needs by reaching out to community members, developing goals within them, and creating partnerships between residents and police.

Mr. Bratton admitted that he was a relatively new champion of the kind of community policing we practice here in Los Angeles, but declared himself as impressed.

He said he understood how the C-PAB, SLO, Reserve and other volunteer programs he'd learned about were just what was needed to combat crime in a city as large as Los Angeles with such a small per capita police force.

Mr. Bratton praised the way Chief Pomeroy had come out of retirement to lead the LAPD and how he'd used his time as Chief to begin the process of reforming the Department. Several times he made special mention of the relationship he had established with Commander Jim McDonnell, currently Special Assistant to the Chief.

He said both Chief Pomeroy and Commander McDonnell had been working closely with him, getting him well prepared for the new position, and providing a very detailed overview of the current LAPD.

He said the "transition document" they'd provided is almost 360 pages long, and breaks the Department down Division by Division, and section by section. Among other things he noticed a uniform need to greatly improve the use of technology across the board, not just in terms of computer systems, but even such simple things as a working telephone system.

One of the best opportunities Mr. Bratton sees is the opportunity to reorganize the Department, and he said the Council could expect an immediate shake up of the command staff at Parker Center. There will he said, "be very significant changes in the leadership at the LAPD."

The candidate said he'll be giving much more autonomy to the local commanding officers at each of the the 18 (soon to be 20) LAPD Divisions. He said they've had their hands tied in the past, but know better than anyone how their local residents wish to be served. He'd like to see them be, in effect, local, neighborhood "Chiefs of Police."

Mr. Bratton said one could view the consent decree as a useful guide and tool. Officers under Bratton will conduct themselves "constitutionally, compassionately and consistently" but he added he wants them "back in the game" of real crime fighting. There will be changes in the discipline system.

He vowed to run a transparent and inclusive Department, cooperating fully with the Inspector General, members of the City Council and others, and encouraging various opinions and input be expressed, saying he wants "a Department that is open to the public, and responsive to their needs."

From within the Department, Mr. Bratton said he'll invite ideas from every quarter, with the understanding that once a policy is decided on and set it will be followed.

Among his top priority crime fighting commitments are domestic violence, gang and narcotic trafficking crimes, and hate crimes of all kinds.

The candidate said he has a commitment to Special Order 40, and to serving all the residents, regardless of race, color, or legal status. He believes, he said, in the inclusion of the community in all areas ... specifically mentioned the Community-Police Advisory Boards. He sees an opportunity for partnerships with the now emerging Neighborhood Councils.

The Chief-to-be said he'd resigned all board memberships, private and public, so as not to have any conflicts of interest, and that he intends to stay the full five year term as Chief of LAPD on this, likely his final Police Chief job. He also stated that he has no current plans to write a second book.

Mr. Bratton said he believes in American urban living, and shares Mayor Hahn's commitment to making Los Angeles the safest large city in America.