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

The following input is related to the article LA Community Policing is six months old and is the community response to the LACP Question of the Week ...

"What's YOUR critique of LA Community Policing?"

Where do you think community policing should be going in LA? What roles do you want LACP to play in this?

(NOTE: click here if you've not seen the "Your Comments" page before)

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Soraya Dosaj, Los Angeles - Sept 16

I would like to see more officers assigned to anti-gang details. We also need stiffer penalties for gang-related and tagger offenses - parents of offenders need to be involved in the penalty.

Soraya Dosaj
member Neighborhood Watch

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Everett Littlefield, Silverlake - Sept 12

Dear Bobbie and Bill:

In response to your question; "What is your critique of LA Community Policing" I am more than grateful to be able to have a place to participate on your website and in the community in the "disseminating information, sharing ideas, and suggesting ways the community can become engaged in making our streets safer to improve the quality of life" here in Los Angeles.

Since the inception of your LACP.org site and after the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack, your web pages have made me more aware of ways community members can help fight terrorism and social injustice, whether it's crime or gang activity here in our own back yard in the Los Angeles. Your website also made me aware of the need of community members to be better prepared for any future disasters, whether it be a terrorist attack or an earthquake.

My answer to help make our streets safer and improve the quality of life here in Los Angeles is becoming a volunteer in the Los Angeles Police Dept and to be better prepared for any future disaster, and volunteer in the Los Angeles Fire Dept by becoming a "Community Emergency Response Team" (CERT) member.

The Los Angeles Police Department gives a 10 week Adult Police Academy training class and the Los Angeles Fire Department gives a 17 1/2 hr CERT training class which are both well organized and presented.

In addition, there is no better way to pay tribute to and show your condolences to those families who lost family members in the act of duty in the 9/11 terrorist attack than by volunteering in either the Los Angeles Police Dept., the Fire Dept. or both.

The community is waiting for all of you who want to help make a difference in the quality of life in Los Angeles.

Everett Littlefield
Silverlake

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LG, Redwood City - Sept 9

Dear Sir and Madam:

Although I do not live in Los Angeles, and not a part of your community policing, I think your idea is a good one ... and other large cities and even small ones would benefit from a program like yours.

You should consider franchising or branching out.

I can tell you right now that Redwood City needs someone (a community) to be watching their police force since they are all pretty "dirty" ... they prey on folks largely because they need those tax dollars to keep getting their paychecks and feed the system. The Chief just turns his cheek. Many other communities are like this as well.

Maybe if there was a web site (such as LACP) they would know "somebody" was watching and try to curb their wrongdoings or keep them at a minimum at least.

I have not the time or inclination to set this up and get it going in my town ... I think you should send one of your partners up here to investigate.

Yours in service,

LG
Redwood City

EDITOR'S NOTE: While we can appreciate the sentiment being expressed here, we have no wish to perform as watchdogs for law enforcement. There's an Internal Affairs Department, a Board of Police Commissions and an Inspector General who do that. Our desire is to function as partners with the LAPD, which we know from personal experience is filled with officers of every rank who have only the best of motives, and the highest integrity, as they serve our City everyday.

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Daisy Jackson, Montecito Heights - Sept 9

Dear Mr. Murray,

First, thank you for all you do in service to our neighborhood. As you know, I just moved to Los Angeles. I am so glad that Montecito Heights is the place I have chosen as home because your efforts make our area a joy in which to live.

Secondly, the website is informative. Your attention to detail, and your obvious knowledge of the pulse of the community, all combine to make it a wonderful place to live.

Again, thank you for your willingness to serve.

Your neighbor,

Daisy Jackson