The LACP Question of the Week ... the community response

The following input is related to the article 13 applicants remain for LAPD's next Chief of Police and is the community response to the LACP Question of the Week ...

"What's your criteria for Chief?"

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Guillermo Villagran, San Pedro - Sept 6

Regarding the qualifications for Police Chief, I believe that the criteria currently being considered by the Commission is sufficient to select an able and qualified Chief.

However, and I strongly state this, do not succumb to the notion that Los Angeles needs to have an hispanic Chief because 1) latinos represent a major percentage of this city's inhabitants and 2) because it's now "our turn" to be rewarded with someone from our racial group.

The idea that a latino Chief will be more approachable and empathetic to minority issues is absolute rubbish!!! We latinos desire the same qualities in Chief as any other racial, national, or cultural group.

Select the best man or woman based on their qualifications and their past record wherein they have demonstrated such capabilities.

I trust you will do what's best for our deserving city.

Sincerely,

Guillermo Villagran
San Pedro

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Leslie Bashaar, West Hills - Sept 1

It would be my hope that the new chief of police would be someone with the respect of the rank and file of LAPD.

I would expect that the chief would have strong leadership skills and emotional fortitude to work diligently to curb the disasterous effects of the Consent Decree.

I would want the Chief to be proactive in assisting the Neighborhood Watch and Community Based Policing Programs to keep our own neighborhoods safe from harm.

I would want the Chief to develop an aggressive plan to add more officers to our police force.

I would want the Chief to re-enact the anti-gang units that were so effective in the early 1990's.

I would want the chief to be more than a political animal and actually get effective work done to keep our fair city safe.

I would want the chief to serve the public, in its vast and various needs.

Sincerely,

Leslie Bashaar
West Hills

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Patricia Price, Hollywood - Aug 31

We need someone that will work with the community as well as the police.

It appears that Kalish can but KABC radio seams to think David Gascon has a excellect record to listen to all.

We will see.

Patricia Price
Hollywood

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Tony Scudellari, Glassell Park - Aug 30

Dear LACP.org:

First, I want to thank you for this great site and specifically Bill Murray for being such a strong advocate for our community and the LAPD. I've been to a number of community meetings and Mr. Murray is an inspiration.

In answer to the Question of the Week:

Community policing would be high on my list. I think it is important we have a Chief who strongly advocates community policing and the Senior Lead Officer program. This is such a necessary component to Los Angeles simply because of the vast territory that makes up our city. As part of that, we need a Chief who will support and expand upon the SLO and Neighborhood Watch programs.

My other criteria that I would ideally like to see:

In spite of what happened at Rampart, we need CRASH or some variant of this program. 99.999% of the men and women of LAPD are good, honest, hard working individuals dedicated to serving our community. Please do not let the misconduct of .001% besmirch the good work of the vast majority in the Department. As described on this site, we need to fight the homegrown terrorists; we cannot allow them to win by tying our Department's hands.

Speaking of "not the answer" - the Consent Decree makes my blood boil - talk about tying the hands of our good officers! I could go on and on about what is wrong with this (get a copy and read it). I've made my feelings known to any public official who will listen and I urge you to do the same. If there is any way our new Chief can reverse this or find a way to defuse this disaster, he or she would have my full support.

I would also ideally like to have a Chief who listens to the rank and file. The best management is for the "boss" to know the issues and concerns facing those in the field. Our new Chief should make decisions with a basic understanding of what our officers go through in the City of Los Angeles and be willing to listen to their suggestions for approaching and solving problems. It is one of the reasons I would strongly support choosing a Chief from within LAPD's ranks. And, I think it sends an important message to the Department that their service is truly valued by our City - enough so that the Chief is chosen from within. A Chief chosen in-house can hit the ground running, know and appreciate the diverse communities of the City and have a first-hand knowledge of what our officers currently face on a day-to-day basis.

Another important criteria which is tied in to this:

Our new Chief must be a strong advocate for the force. He or she must be vocal about fighting for better department financing so our officers have the equipment and man (and woman) power necessary. This is especially crucial since we are 1,100 officers below where we need to be *and* because our force has the additional burdens of

Our officers are stretched to the limit. Something needs to change and our new Chief should be a driving force on this. Ideally, our new Chief should also be dynamic enough to help in the recruitment campaign for new officers.

And last but not least:

An understanding and appreciation of our City's diversity is important. We cannot afford to have a new Chief who is perceived as having any sort of animosity towards any group based on race, religion, gender, national origin or sexual orientation. Our new Chief must fully embrace the diversity of this community and enthusiastically believe in protecting and serving all the law abiding citizens of the City of Los Angeles. This certainly would eliminate Chief Kroeker from my list because his selection would be potentially divisive to a significant popultion within the City of Los Angeles as well as members from within the department.

Thanks for this forum and this great web site; my apologies for the length.

Sincerely,

Tony Scudellari
Glassell Park

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Paul Robinson, Harbor Area C-PAB member - Aug 30

The criteria reported by the commission seems appropriate and adequate. I am concerned at the emphasis by the public on Community Policing as a panaceae for all the ills of the City and L.A.P.D.

CP, as envisioned by Chief Parks - but never instigated - wherein ALL sworn officers became more familiar with and available to the citizenry is an excellent - and traditional - approach to more successful policing.

Alert involvement by the public, as demonstrated several times recently in the rash of kidnappings, is equally important to successful crime prevention and solution.

Too many people appear to believe Community Policing amounts to having access to an officer (SLO) who will address and correct their every concern, even in non-police matters.

Let's have a Chief who commmands (and deserves) the respect of the personnel and the public. Encompassed in that are all of the traits essential to a successful, effective Chief of Police.

Paul Robinson
Harbor Area C-PAB member

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Anonymous, Sun Valley - Aug 30

Please give the position to someone who will be tough on gangs. Our neighborhood here in the East San Fernando Valley is ruled by the gangs. We're sick of it and all the bleeding hearts who defend them.

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Linda F. Jacobsen, St. Charles, Missouri - Aug 30

Though I do not reside in your district, I have a background in diversity and intercultural sensitivity issues. You can imagine, then, my hope that you would include amongst your selection criteria a key leadership skill of working across cultures and ethnicities with success and a direct and open approach.

The issues of honor, ethics, and putting the safety of people above political agendas and ambitions is also essential. Someone less rooted in the political ties in your city will not be easily swayed by such forces when high profile cases hit the media and the community demands information and action.

The final element, just alluded to, is the ability to be a powerful communicator in many directions. The officers must all feel comfortable and confident in their leadership, and so must the politicians, press, and prodigious bureaucracy in your region. If the officers have every confidence in this candidate, that confidence will be projected out into the community, where the residents in contact with your officers will get the message. Unity and trust above all.

Best of luck in your search. I know you will choose well for all concerned,

Linda F. Jacobsen,
President & CEO
Global Vision Strategies, LLC

St. Charles, Missouri
(frequent visitor on business to LA)

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Monica, Harmon, Los Angeles - Aug 30

In addition to the criteria the Blue Ribbon Committee submitted to the police commission the next chief of police should first and foremost have the utmost integrity and ethics.

He should be a fair and honest man who can communicate with all his officers, not just his command staff. He should have a great vision and positive attitude to lead the LAPD to new heights.

If the next chief is not a personable man then qualifications and experience won't matter.

Our police officers deserve a Chief who respects and supports them.

I have faith that this police commission will make the right decision.

Monica Harmon
Los Angeles

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Norm Swirin, Hollywood / Wilshire - Aug 30

Bill (the best!):

Community based policing only has everything to do with everything!

It must have the new Chief's highest priority!

Keep goin'!!!

Norm

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bj, Los Angeles - Aug 29

Dear LACP,

I cannot imagine a more difficult job than being Chief of Police for the City of Los Angeles. I think all of the applicants should be applauded for simply having the courage to apply! The scrutiny under which every aspect of the job will command will be daunting at best.

We live in a different world now, so different from even ten years ago, and the community and the police department need to work together in a fashion never seen before in the City of Los Angeles. The new Chief must understand this fully and embrace this change, because none of us can do it alone, not anymore and not in these trying times.

I have every faith that the Commission and Mayor will make the best choice possible and that a new era has been ushered in, one that we can all live with.

bj