Operations-Central Bureau ... determined to stop the violence
Concentrated forces and community efforts to curb gang violence
September 24, 2002

Chief of Police Martin Pomeroy has asked the Commanding Officers of the four LAPD Bureaus to make presentations to the Board of Police Commissioners, one at a time at concurrent weekly Commission meetings. As he prepares to leave office, Chief Pomeroy wants to offer the Board a current Status Report from each quadrant of the Department -- the South, Central, West and Valley Bureaus.

Deputy Chief Willie Pannell, Commanding Officer of Operations-South Bureau, was asked to come to Parker Center first, appearing on September 10th (click here to read about the 9/10/02 South Bureau Status Report).

Next, Deputy Chief Ronald Bergmann, Commanding Officer of Operations-Valley Bureau, came before the Commission, appearing on September 17th, (click here to read about the 9/17/02 Valley Bureau Status Report).

The Commanding Officer of Operation-Central Bureau, Deputy Chief Margaret York, was unable to attend the meeting on September 24, so her assistant, Commander Cayler (Lee) Carter, gave Central Bureau report to the Commission instead. Central Bureau is home to five LAPD Areas, including Central, Hollenbeck, Newton, Northeast and Rampart Divisions. It serves a population of roughly 900,000 people, covers 65 square miles, and includes some of the most ethnically and culturally diverse communities in the City. In addition to downtown, MacArthur Park, Dodger Stadium and Griffith Park are all served by Central Bureau.

Commander Cayler (Lee) Carter

LAPD Chief of Police Martin Pomeroy, presented the Commander to the members of the Board, two of who were absent. Commissioners David Cunningham, Rose Ochi and Silvia Saucedo attended.

Commander Carter reported on crime statistics and on strategies to combat crime. He said the year to date statistics indicated that Central Bureau was doing comparatively well. While other parts of the City were showing some significant increases, Central Bureau "Part 1" crimes, the most serious and violent offenses, were up only 2% over last year, and "Part 2" crimes were statistically about even. Arrest rates were also nearly the same as last year.

There had been a -1% reduction in calls for service. 1,224 guns had been taken off the streets, and 650 gang related arrests had been made. A total of 2,682 gang related crimes had occurred. There were 136 homicides so far in the Bureau, and 64 related arrests. In fact, the Central Bureau arrest rate for all serious crimes was about 60% across the board.

However, the Hollenbeck Area homicide rate was up 48%, with an estimated 85% of them being gang related. The Bureau had moved extra resources into the Division, just as it had last year when Northeast's Atwater neighborhood had experienced 12 homicides in quick succession.

In that case, teams from Central Division, Metro Division, Narcotics, the SEU (gang units) and other resources were deployed, and candle light vigils were conducted with the help of local clergy. The investigation determined that one individual, a gang member, was responsible for up to nine of the twelve homicides. A warrent was put out for his arrest, and the homicides stopped. Although he's not been picked up yet, the Department is actively looking for him, and it's been determined that he's been seen traveling back and forth to Las Vegas.

The Central Bureau approach, deemed Rapid Response to Violent Crime, is capable of bringing Bureau resources into an effected area within a couple hours notice. It calls for the immediate redeployment of officers from a variety of resources including Traffic, Narcotics, Central Division, SEU and units from Metropolitan Division. In addition Motor Strike Teams are often deployed.

Commander Carter said that measuring the success of this technique is difficult, because as soon as the area is flooded with officers word spreads on the streets. Regardless, the Bureau continues to assess the situation and keeps the pressure on for a while. In some notable instances "probable cause" has been employed to impound vehicles used in drive-by shootings.

For the past couple of months, Central Bureau has employed something new, the so called "Pay Day" task force, a strategy which seems to be very promising. The original name came from the fact that the operation was first tried every two weeks, on a pay day, when the most officers are on duty and available. Larger than normal groups of officers flood an area unannounced. But now, as the program continues, the schedule is more random.

A lot of good cooperation with Parole and Probation Departments has allowed Central Bureau to extensively use searches as a technique to combat and solve crimes. Special mention was made of the inter-Bureau teamwork of Narcotics Division (Central Bureau) and detectives from 77th Street Division (South Bureau).

Commander Carter stated the Juvenile Citation Program was also a success, and officers had given out 13,031 citations, year to date.

From a community standpoint, Central Bureau has acted as a facilitator putting on a series of events, notably with a Hollenbeck group called "United Communities to Stop the Violence." These are community dialogues, held in a seminar format, where the idea is to forge relationships with residents, and learn their concerns and issues.

The steering group includes members from the Hollenbeck C-PAB, LAUSD, Neighborhood Councils, Chambers of Commerce, and local churches. Other City departments are also involved, as well as the two members of City Council whose Districts overlap Hollenbeck, Councilmen Ed Reyes (CD1) and Nick Pacheco (CD14).

The first event, on June 1st, had the theme "Gangs and Drugs; understanding the issues" and attracted hundreds. Because it was so popular, the group believes the second dialogue, scheduled for October 19th, may be attended by up to 500 residents. During the June event, a theme emerged for the second dialogue, "Parenting, Youth and Families; raising a community."

All are invited to come to the upcoming event, which is free, and is scheduled for October 19th, at Bravo High School next door to County / USC Medical Center. (NOTE: Please see below for a full description.)

Commissioner Silvia Saucedo played an important role in the first dialogue, delivering the keynote address, and even offering to translate briefly.

At the Commission meeting, Commissioner Saucedo thanked Commander Carter, and Chief York in her absence, for helping to put on these events. She spoke to the value of such a dialogue and commended Central Bureau and the United Community to Stop the Violence group for their efforts to reach out to the community.

At this point Commissioner Rose Ochi asked a question about the homeless and mentally ill, many of whom are gathered in the downtown skid row section of the Bureau's Central Division. She wanted to know if there was any way to determine their relationship to homicides and other crimes. For example she asked if it possible to say how many crimes are perpetrated by homeless, and how many homeless are victims.

Commander Carter said it was difficult to say, since the Department doesn't keep records this way. But it was certain that Central Division had to deal with more than its fair share of homeless issues, based partly on the concentration of "service providers" in the downtown area.

Commissioner Ochi then asked where people who have been incarcerated in the downtown jail get released.

Commander Carter explained that most are released in Central Area, rather than being returned to the community where they were arrested, but they are working on resolving this. He said that it's also a problem that some service providers simply drop off homeless people downtown. In fact, they'd discovered that some homeless are given one way bus tickets to Los Angeles from other areas.

As Commander Carter concluded, Chief Pomeroy was joined by the Board members who congratulated him on making such a good report thanked him for being there.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Here are some upcoming Central Bureau community events:

FREE EVENT Saturday, Oct. 12 (10 am - 3 pm)
Northeast Division Crime Prevention Fair and Open House. This family style event will be held at the Northeast Division Station, 3353 San Fernando Road. Parking will be off San Fernando Road ... just look for directional signs.
For further information call: Northeast Community Relations at 213 / 485-2548

FREE EVENT Saturday, Oct. 19th (10 am - 3 pm)
"Parenting, Youth and Families; raising a community" is being presented by United Communities to Stop Violence of which LA Community Policing is a partner - Bravo High School, adjacent to County USC Medical Center.
For further information call: Hollenbeck Community Relations at 323 / 526-3188

SPECIAL EVENT Tuesday, Oct. 29th (6 pm)
Los Angeles Police Commission holding a meeting in the Hollenbeck Area. Resurrection Church, 3340 East Opal Street, Boyle Heights. The Board of Police Commissioners will hear and address local issues. Community members are encouraged to attend and share their opinions and make comments.
For further information call: the Commission at 213 / 485-3531 or Hollenbeck Community Relations at 323 / 526-3188

Please see the LACP Calendar for more details, and to find other upcoming events in your area.