Greetings from the Los Angeles Police Department. The following is the
monthly update for October 2003. I hope you find the information useful.
You are encouraged to continue to visit our Web site at www.LAPDOnline.org
as it has grown to over 10,000 pages since its inception in 1998.
CHIEF’S MESSAGE - THE CONSENT DECREE: FACT vs. FICTION
Many people within the City of Los Angeles are unfamiliar with the issues
surrounding the Consent Decree. Hopefully, separating fact from fiction
will help all of us achieve a unified goal of compliance.
The Consent Decree is a contract between the City of Los Angeles and the
United States. There is an Independent Monitor (Kroll Associates) who
provides a real time review of how the Department is complying with its
obligations. The Consent Decree does not empower the Department of
Justice or the Monitor to control any part of the Department.
Along with reducing crime, particularly gang violence, and improved
counter terrorism capability, compliance with the Consent Decree is one of
my top three priorities. I expect that at the end of the mandated five-
year period, the United States Department of Justice will declare that the
Department is in compliance and federal oversight of the LAPD will be
over. I strongly believe the Consent Decree provisions are the basis of
solid business and policing practices and are the foundation for the
future of this Department. In essence, once the Department is in
compliance, the Federal Government will be able to stand with the members
of the LAPD and say that we have proven that we are not a corrupt, brutal
or racist Department.
On June 15, 2001, the countdown to compliance began. The Department must
be in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Consent Decree by
June 15, 2004. Substantial compliance means greater than 94-percent
compliance with each of the provisions that apply to the LAPD. If the
Department maintains substantial compliance for two years, the Decree will
expire on June 15, 2006. That is our goal. The decree could remain in
effect if the Department fails as an organization.
The Consent Decree provisions primarily involve six areas: audits,
supervision, gang units, internal investigations, relations with the
public and civilian oversight. The Consent Decree will bring benefits as
well as obligations in the form of additional monies, resources and
technology that will help the Department operationally for many years to
come.
I am often asked about the Consent Decree and I understand the many
questions and concerns. I hope to address those questions and clear up
some of the myths and misconceptions I frequently hear.
Common Consent Decree Myths
1. The Department of Justice and the Independent Monitor controls the
promotions of individual employees.
FALSE - The Consent Decree does not concern or impact promotions in any
significant way. Police promotions are addressed within the civil service
rules and regulations, Memoranda of Understanding of the Los Angeles
Police Protective League and the Command Officers’ Association as well as
provisions of the City Charter.
2. The Department of Justice and the Independent Monitor controls the
discipline decisions involving individual employees.
FALSE - Charter section 1070 controls the discipline of sworn members of
the Department. The Consent Decree does not address the issue of
individual discipline. It does have limited provisions involving the
conduct of administrative investigations. The monitor can only review
completed administrative investigations and the purpose of the review is
an auditing function only.
3. Field Data Reports (FDR)
What, if any, conclusions can be drawn from statistical analysis of FDR
data is currently unknown. In an effort to find answers to these
questions, the City is seeking to contract with a technical expert. The
FDR is a tool to gather Department-wide information. In 2004, a prototype
handheld computerized system will be available to record this data for all
patrol officers. It will also allow for the simultaneous creation of
citations and field interview cards. Its use by police officers in the
field will be phased in over several months after its implementation.
4. The Consent Decree prevents the use of observation posts and controls
how officers work. FALSE - Nothing in the Consent Decree prohibits an
observation post or controls enforcement of the law. The provisions state
that gang unit activities must be logistically based within the concerned
Geographic Area’s station and the units cannot use off-site locations at
night to hold arrestees or interview witnesses. These provisions were
designed to ensure effective and constant supervision, in direct response
to the Rampart scandal. Observation posts or other methods may still be
used to observe criminal conduct.
These are just some of the questions and misunderstandings commonly
expressed by officers and others. I am certain there are more and I will
attempt to address them as I hear about them.
The Consent Decree does allow for modifications or changes if both parties
agree and a Federal Judge concurs. However, until the Department achieve
a substantial level of compliance, the LAPD will not be in a strong
position to request material changes. As of the end of the first quarter
of 2003, we believe that we are in compliance with 71 of 116 provisions
that have been evaluated. The Department is not in compliance with many
provisions relating to gang unit management, audits, training, and the
documentation of arrests, searches and administrative investigations.
These are issues that affect supervision and management systems.
The Department is less than a year away from achieving substantial
compliance. To that end, over the next several months, at my direction,
there will be a lot of attention paid to compliance accountability by
individual command officers, supervisors and units that have direct
designated responsibility for various consent decree issues. Be assured
that members of this Department are working very hard to reach Mayor
Hahn’s goal to make Los Angeles the safest large city in America by
reducing crime, the threat of terrorism and by compliance with the Consent
Decree.
The officers of the LAPD, with very few exceptions, are the best cops in
America. I have seen that for myself time and again over the last eleven
months that I have been privileged to be their Chief.
The Rampart case and other similar cases of abuse, corruption and non-
performance clearly showed how the criminal actions of a few corrupt cops
can bring a great department to its knees. The men and women of this
Department didn’t join to be scorned and mistrusted by the very people
they were sworn to protect and serve. They joined because they wanted to
be part of the best. They are working with me and the Consent Decree so
they can once again stand with pride and say irrefutably that the Los
Angeles Police Department is the best law enforcement organization in
America - second to none - a transparent organization with nothing to
hide. We are all working together to prove it to everyone else.
CRIME STATISTICS - CITY-WIDE
Year to Date as of September 27, 2003
Homicide Down -23.9%
Rape Down -8.1%
Robbery Down -1.1%
Aggravated Assault Down -7.0%
Domestic Violence Down -3.7%
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TOTAL VIOLENT CRIMES Down -4.5%
Burglary Down -0.1%
Burglary/Theft from Vehicle Down -3.5%
Personal/Other Theft Down -7.9%
Auto Theft Down -3.5%
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TOTAL PROPERTY CRIMES Down -3.6%
WEST BUREAU TOWN HALL MEETING
This Town Hall Meeting will bring people from the Hollywood, Pacific, West
Los Angeles and Wilshire Areas together with local government to discuss
community concerns. The Chief of Police will be in attendance along with
the Commanding Officers from West Bureau Community Police Stations, and
other police and City officials. This is the forum for community input
and a vital component of the community/police partnership.
The Town Hall Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 7:00
p.m. at Mears Center, 1760 North Gower Street. Please join us.
MEDAL OF VALOR CEREMONIES
On Monday, October 27, 2003, at 12:00 noon, the Los Angeles Police
Department will present the Medal of Valor Awards, the Department’s
highest honor. The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce will host the
44th Annual Medal of Valor Awards luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel
located at 711 S. Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets for the
luncheon may be purchased by contacting Lisa Angrisani at the Los Angeles
Area Chamber of Commerce at (213) 580-7594. The cost of this event is $85
per person and tables of ten may also be purchased. The proceeds from
this event will benefit the Los Angeles Police Foundation and the Los
Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Medal of Valor is awarded to officers who have distinguished
themselves with acts of bravery or heroism beyond the normal demands of
police service. To date, the Department has awarded 504 Medal of Valor
awards. The actions of the officers receiving this honor, illustrates the
type of situations any Los Angeles Police Officer may face in the day-to-
day performance of their duties.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION MOUNTED PLATOON’S ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE
Each year the Mounted (Equestrian) Platoon opens the doors of the barn to
the public for their Annual Open House. This year a special celebration
will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2003, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
to mark the Mounted Platoon’s 15th anniversary. Tours of the facility and
demonstrations, along with various other law enforcement displays, will be
available to all visitors. Please join us.
LAPD HAS RE-ESTABLISHED ITS LATERAL ENTRY PROGRAM
The Department has re-established this program for qualified California
police officers. The lateral program includes an expedited testing
process and an abbreviated training and orientation program. The training
program will cover areas where LAPD training exceeds the State’s Peace
Officers Standards and Training (POST) mandated training and areas that
are LAPD specific. The training will be conducted in a manner that
recognizes current police officer’s standing as experienced California law
enforcement professionals and not as new recruits.
Lateral candidates must meet all of the requirements for entry-level Los
Angeles Police Officers, have valid California Basic POST Certificates and
have completed probationary periods with a California police agency. They
must complete all LAPD tests, except the qualifying written tests. The
tests are an oral interview, a physical abilities test, a background
investigation which includes a polygraph examination, a medical
evaluation, written psychological tests, and a psychological interview and
evaluation.
Interested candidates may contact a recruiter at (866) 444-LAPD, or log on
to www.lacity.org/per/safety.htm for more information.
HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
Halloween is an exciting time of the year and a particularly special treat
for children. However, Halloween can be very stressful, as some people
may play mean tricks and provide tainted treats. Parents and children
should be alert to unnecessary hazards. The following are some crime
prevention tips that can help make Halloween safe and more enjoyable for
everyone:
* Instruct your children never to enter the home of a stranger.
* Do not allow your children to go out alone.
* Instruct your children to stay in their own neighborhood and trick or
treat at homes that have porch lights on.
* Children should wear costumes made of light colored material. If the
costume is made of dark material, attach reflective tape to the costume
to increase nighttime visibility.
* Replica firearms that could be mistaken for real firearms should be
avoided.
* Children and adults should carry a flashlight so that motorists can see
them.
* Children should walk on the sidewalks, not on the street.
* Children should cross the street at the corners. They should never
cross the street between parked cars, in the middle of the block, or
diagonally across the intersection.
* Masks can restrict vision. If your child wears a mask, make sure he or
she removes it before crossing the street.
The Department has attempted to establish crime prevention awareness for
Halloween, so that our ghosts and goblins can enjoy their trick or
treating. Be alert, stay safe, and enjoy Halloween.
WILLIAM J. BRATTON
Chief of Police
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