Will The Community's Input Really Make a Difference?
by Bobbie J. Logan

The Los Angeles Police Commission hosted the third community meeting held on Thursday, June 6th, at the Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys. Commissioner Herbert Boeckmann presided over the gathering along with Executive Director Joe Gunn who was acting once again as facilitator. Mayor James Hahn was in attendance, and he opened the meeting with a brief speech thanking all of us for coming out that day in order to share our ideas as to what we want to see in our new Chief of Police.

Mr. Gunn explained how the meeting would proceed and that attendees would each be given three minutes to speak. He also announced that some 20,000 "City of Los Angeles Chief of Police Selection Criteria Surveys" had been mailed out and the responses would be critical. He also stated that the Commission was placing notices in many law enforcement publications concerning the search for a new chief.

The panel was teased since the Spanish translator was late because of bad traffic (he eventually did show up). The atmosphere seemed a bit somber, perhaps because the lighting was dim, and the sound system was rather poor. But Commissioner Boeckmann was very attentive towards all the participants and, although a little quiet, seemed in good humor.

In all, about two dozen community members came to the mike in Van Nuys.

Most in the group desired the Commission consider potential candidates from within LAPD only. A single voice expressing a different opinion came from a speaker who said the Commission should not consider candidates from Los Angeles, or anyone from the state of California for that matter, and should find someone who has no relatives within LAPD. But the majority was adamant that the Commission and Mayor pick the next chief from within the Department.

A considerable number of attendees mentioned Mark Kroeker as their choice, which was only natural since he is well known by this group having served at one time as Valley Bureau Deputy Chief. One gentlemen mentioned that his preference was Art Lopez, a former Deputy Chief of Central Bureau.

Communication was a very important issue for many of the participants. Good communication skills are seen as key in a City and Department so varied, so complicated and so diverse. It was expressed that we need a chief who can relate on many different levels, with the rank and file and the community, and a leader who is not intimidated by language or socio-economic barriers.

It was voiced that the new chief should encourage and facilitate communication in regards to any proposed major change within the Department to both the community and the officers prior to it's implementation. An example given was the recent change in Division lines, which affected the Senior Lead Officers, where no notice was given to the effected community. It was pointed out that it takes a great deal of time to develop a trusting relationship between the SLO and the community, and that abrupt changes such as this were very disconcerting. It was suggested that the new chief establish a system of two-way communication so that this would not be repeated.

In each of these meetings to date two issues brought forth time and again, and from all types of individuals, were the need for community based policing and retention of the Senior Lead Officer program. Impassioned pleas came forth for the Police Commission to consider only those candidates that fully embrace community policing and those who will support the Senior Lead Officer program.

At one point, after more than half a dozen speakers approached the podium saying similar things, Commissioner Boeckmann stated that the concept of community policing is very strong with the Mayor and that we should not worry about the SLO program. He turned to Mayor Hahn and asked him to please make a statement.

The Mayor said, "We need community policing in order to do an effective job. LAPD needs the community because the community knows where the problems are [such as it] knows where the drug houses are. With the SLO's connection with the community we can fix the problem and shut the drug houses down." The Mayor went on to point out that the SLO program had been fully reinstated as of this past month at all the Bureaus, and that while it's true that community based policing is the job of every police officer, the Department needs a "point person," and that person is the Senior Lead Officer.

An interesting and different subject brought to the forefront by one gentleman was the jail consolidation program now going on in the Valley. He pointed out that all but one of the three jails in the Valley were being closed, which he considered a big mistake. He called it a "failed experiment" because it was putting too much stress on the county jail system and too many prisoners were being released early. He stated the new chief should get a handle on the City and hit the ground running, and that the problem of overcrowded jails was a very important issue to deal with.

Commissioner Boeckmann commended the speaker for his concern, and he kidded that to people outside the Valley this might seem an unusual request, since in most areas people want to keep jails out of their neighborhoods.

Several common denominators prevailed, as was true in the two previous meetings. Many participants voiced their desire for a chief with vision, who will build morale, be a strong leader, and respect the rank and file ... a person who will address the disciplinary system and if mistakes are made, be willing to admit them, and then back up and regroup.

Additional skills desired in our new chief read like those on a resume. Attendees asked for candidates versed not only in organization, but in deployment and tactics. Many want an expert, hardworking leader with the ability to delegate authority, and someone who will not just give orders, but to take them too, and most said they want a chief who is seriously committed to safety concerns all around the City.

Because this meeting was held in Van Nuys, the issue of secession was raised. One speaker suggested the Commission consider candidates that support unification because of this possibility. Politics entered the fray with many requests for the Commission to please not consider candidates for "politically correct" reasons.

A subject that was not heard at the first two meetings was the desire for the new chief to keep recruitment requirements for new officers to a high standard. The speaker stated that LAPD training is some of the best in the country, and that this should not be changed in an attempt to simply gain more officers. He said we need candidates for chief who understand this and those who have a good plan for recruitment.

A couple of people referred to the Christopher Commission and stated there were several recommendations they felt still needed to be implemented by the LAPD. They hoped the next chief understood its mandates and would stand by them, especially in the area of civil rights and civil liberties.

Commissioner Boeckmann ended the meeting by telling the participants that he and many members of his family live in the Valley, and that safety is just as an important issue for him as it is for any fellow member of the community. He stated that he believes we have outstanding officers, and suggested we all drop the Mayor a note telling him our candidate of choice. As the Commissioner said, "It will make a difference."

Will the Commission really listen to all these requests? I think they will.

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See Choosing the New Chief to find out what was shared
at the six other public meetings held out in the communities.

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