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 www.lapdonline.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