A Positive Take on the Process
by Bobbie J. Logan

The fourth in a series of seven meetings for the criteria development for the new Chief of Police was held Wednesday evening, June 12th, at the Banning Landing Community Center in Wilmington.

The meeting was not well attended, probably due to the Lakers Championship game, attracting the smallest group of community members yet ... unfortunate because it was a delightful venue and well worth the trip just to see the ships docked in the Port of Los Angeles Harbor.

The Board of Police Commission representative for the evening was Commission Vice President Rose Ochi, and the meeting was again well facilitated by the Commission staff, headed up by Executive Director Joe Gunn.

Councilwoman Janice Hahn was also in attendance, arriving toward the end of the meeting, and she was the last speaker at the podium. About a dozen community members had made the trip down from Watts, attending as a group. Their presence was sincerely appreciated, as everyone was grateful for their effort and contribution.

The top issues at this particular meeting seemed to be know-how, familiarity, and understanding of the LAPD and law-enforcement as a whole. Many speakers requested the Commission only consider candidates with a broad spectrum of seasoned experience ... everything from emergency situations, to good public relations, to handling a large department.

As one gentleman stated, "Let's not gamble on inexperience." He said our new chief should have knowledge and training in all departments, know protocol, and know his or her line officers ... but still have a fresh approach.

Community-based policing was at the forefront once again with strong support from the majority of the participants. Many speakers feel the new chief needs to reach out and meet with the communities, to patrol the neighborhoods personally in order to really stay in touch with the City, and to really talk to his or her officers.

Some offered constructive criticism of the the Commission's selection process itself, saying it needs to be open and fair, that any secrecy breeds discontent and that gossip, and innuendo has no place in the process of choosing a candidate for chief. Again, it was felt that politics should stay out of the selection process.

As occurred in past meetings, there were several suggestions that focused not on the criteria for chief but of the LAPD itself, such as the fact that we need more officers, that they need to be paid higher wages, and that the discipline system needs serious review.

To this Commissioner Ochi revealed that a comprehensive review of the discipline system was underway at the Commission, and that the community could expect significant revisions would be announced by the Board shortly.

One gentleman noted that since the local neighborhood LAPD "walk-in centers" were closed, homicides in the Wilmington area have dramatically increased. His implication was that every at-risk community needed these, and that their existence should be protected.

Another speaker had a rather simple, single and unusual request not so much for the Commission, but for the press, a plea for them to publish at least one article a month about the good that our officers do, describing what real officers have done and to showing them off in a positive light.

Strength of character was another key issue, and one which was heard before at other criteria meetings. But this time the speaker at the podium expressed the desire to have a chief who not only isn't weak, but a chief who can simultaneously acknowledge that there is civilian oversight of the Department while at the same time not allow himself be "run over by the Commission or the Mayor."

One of the participants from Watts reiterated a sentiment heard often, that LAPD needs a chief who is willing to go out into the neighborhoods, and she also said while it's true that "charity begins at home" we need to provide the communities with youth programs and family services. Additionally, she thinks the chief needs to be a strong person, " ... because a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, and we have to have a strong chain."

Some of the evening's participants seemed to be focused on getting as much information out into the forum as possible within the three-minute time limit allowed. One gentleman spoke so quickly that Commissioner Ochi had to ask him to slow down so that the stenographer could keep up with him. It was refreshing to see such exuberance, however, and the overall positive feeling this meeting produced was very exciting.

As has occurred at all the community criteria meetings, many speakers graciously thanked the Commission for giving them an opportunity to be a part of the process. One speaker stated that great confidence has been placed in the Commission, and great faith that they will choose the best chief by looking at all the right attributes in the candidates.

At one point the officers of the LAPD received a huge round of applause from the attendees who spontaneously showed their appreciation for how the officers put themselves on the line for LA every day.

A retired teacher and long term resident of Los Angeles came to the podium to say we won't be able to find a "perfect" chief but it's important that he or she has the ability to do the job. She said LAPD's chief should be strong and qualified, well taught and trained, but that we should not expect miracles because we need to accept and remember that, " ... it takes EVERYONE to make a better City …"

The final speaker at the podium was Councilwoman Janice Hahn of Council District 15. She thanked the Commission and congratulated them on "taking this on the road." She apologized for being late and swore it wasn't because she was watching the Lakers game (even though she knew the score), saying the statement she was about to make would be her own comments and recommendations, not those of her office.

She stated that Los Angeles is at a critical point in its history and that regardless of where we live, Harbor Division, the Valley, the Eastside, etc., the next chief should, first and foremost, get the idea of community based policing, and should be a chief who understands what that really means. She went on to point out that she felt LAPD needs to connect with the community, and that the reason the Senior Lead Officers needed to come back in full force was because they need us and we need them.

According to Ms. Hahn, we have the finest cops in the country. She wants them to feel good about what they do and about their chief. She expressed no complaints about their individual service, stating we simply need to concentrate on recruitment and retention.

The Councilwoman pointed out that we have a major gang problem in the City, one so severe and widespread that there are teenagers in many neighborhoods who are convinced they will never live to see their 21st birthday. They are scared to death. She criticized LAPD, saying there is really no comprehensive plan to combat this terrible problem and that because it so greatly effects how our young people are growing up the new chief needs to make this the number one priority.

Finally, Ms. Hahn's closing remark, "We also need to remember that sometimes a woman is the best man for the job," drew a rather unexpected and exuberant round of applause, with Commissioner Ochi stating, "Well, I can't say I disagree with that!"

The meeting closed with Commissioner Ochi making a statement in thanks to the Councilwoman's brother, Mayor James Hahn, for providing a lot of vision for the LAPD in regards to the discipline system and improving morale and recruitment. She then thanked all of us for coming out and hoped we could all catch the end of the Lakers game.

Later, after learning of the Lakers victory, I couldn't help thinking that the Commission was well on its way to finding LAPD a winner, too.

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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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