Greeting from the Los Angeles Police Department.  The following is the 
monthly update for February 2001.  I hope you find the information 
useful.  I encourage you to continue to visit our Web site at 
<http://www.lapdonline.org/>www.lapdonline.<http://www.lapdonline.org/>org 
as it has grown to over 6,000 pages since its inception in 1998.  We post 
the Department's monthly newsletter - The BEAT, on the Web site.  It serves 
as a source of current information for our employees and those interested 
in the Department.  If you have not seen this newsletter, please take a 
moment to view or download these documents.  Additionally, during this 
rainy season, you might want to view the general circulation Crime 
Prevention Circular titled "Flood Control Channel Safety."


RONALD BERGMANN PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF

Ronald Bergmann, a 28-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, 
was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief on December 31, 2000.  He has 
served as Commanding Officer of Administrative Group for the past year 
where he supervised Management Services Division and Inspection and Control 
Section.  Prior to that, he served as Assistant Commanding Officer of 
Operations-Valley Bureau upon his promotion to Commander in 1998.

Chief Bergmann is now Commanding Officer of Operations-Valley Bureau, where 
he oversees all Department operations in North Hollywood, Van Nuys, 
Foothill, Devonshire and West Valley Areas; an area of 222 square miles 
where more than 1.3 million people reside.


ANGEL TO BE PLACED AT PARKER CENTER POLICE MEMORIAL

In early February, one of the many life-size hand painted angels appearing 
throughout the City will appear in front of Parker Center at the Los 
Angeles Police Memorial.  As part of the Volunteers of America and Catholic 
Big Brothers "Community of Angeles" event, the Department's Grateful 
Employee Organization sponsored the angel and had students from Weemes 
Elementary School in Southwest Area decorate it.  All angels will be on 
display throughout the City for two months.  At the conclusion of the 
event, the angels will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting youth 
programs.

FEBRUARY SAFETY TIPS  BUSINESS CRIME PREVENTION

Robbery Prevention

Every business owner, manager and employee plays a part in making 
businesses safe.  Here are some things you can do to help prevent robbery:

* Have at least two employees open and close the business;
* Install a robbery alarm;
* Place a surveillance camera behind the cash register facing the front 
counter;
* Avoid routine bank transactions, rotate banking days and vary times and 
routes of travel for bank deposits;
* Don't use marked "moneybags" that make it obvious to would-be robbers;
* Keep a low balance in the cash register;
* Place excess money in a safe or deposit it as soon as possible;
* Make sure the sales counter can be seen clearly.  Don't put up 
advertisements, flyers, displays, signs, or posters on windows or 
doors.  The police driving by your store need to see in;
* Keep your business well-lit, inside and outside. Keep trees and bushes 
trimmed;
* Encourage the police to stop by your business;
* There are many Business Watch groups and associations throughout the City 
of Los Angeles.  Make an effort to contact the Los Angeles Police 
Department, Community Relations Office in your area and inquire about how 
to join a local Business Watch group and to get involved;
* If you see something suspicious, call the police.  Never try to handle it 
yourself, and
* Make sure important signs stay posted.  For example, the front door 
should bear signs that say, "Clerk Cannot Open the Time Lock Safe;"

Burglary Prevention

The following information is designed to help you fight burglary through a 
risk management approach.

* Keep a record of all keys issued. Have all keys stamped "Do Not Duplicate;"
* Familiarize your employees with your security systems and procedures;
* The address and name of your business should be visible from the 
street.  Use large, reflectorized numbers.  Mark your address with large, 
reflectorized numbers on the roof of your building for high visibility to 
police helicopter patrols;
* When not in use, gates should be secured with good padlocks and chains;
* Electronic gates, alarms, closed circuit television, two-way 
communications and electric-eye gate openers assist in the detection and 
identification of intruders, and
* Deny burglars access to your roof by securing ladders, pallets, boxes, 
and crates away from your building.  Deny burglars a place to hide by 
keeping grass and shrubs trimmed and debris cleared away from your property.

Businesses suffering from high crime usually have apathy to blame, since a 
business that appears neglected is an invitation to criminals.  Criminals 
know that the police cannot be everywhere at once.  Criminals calculate 
their risk carefully, they know that their easiest targets lie in areas 
unwatched by business owners, managers, employees and local residents.  The 
best deterrent to business-related crime is business owners, managers and 
employees who care, as hundreds of Business Watch programs across the 
country are proving.   For information on a Business Watch in your area, 
contact Crime Prevention Unit, Community Relations Section, at 213-485-3134.

BERNARD C. PARKS
CHIEF OF POLICE