Greetings from the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. The following is the monthly update for August 2004. We 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 Consent Decree Update In June of 2001, the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department entered into a Consent Decree with the federal government. As stated in Paragraph 6, describing the intent of the Decree, “The parties enter into this Agreement to provide for the expeditious implementation of remedial measures, to promote the use of the best available practices and police procedures for police management…” The purpose of the Decree, as defined in Paragraph 1, was to ensure that the parties “join together in entering this settlement in order to promote police integrity and prevent conduct that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” A priority of the Consent Decree is to emphasize the role of command staff, managers, and supervisors with the intended result of improved and consistent quality oversight and control over daily operations. In many ways, the reforms require a different mindset than the Department leadership has practiced in the past, effectively requiring a proactive “best business practice” approach to supervision. This approach emphasizes consistent efforts to improve the quality in our work and the ability at all times to verify the level and degree of supervision. On June 15, 2004, after an aggressive year-long countdown, the Department completed its third year of the Decree, having made significant, ongoing, and substantive changes in our practices and procedures. Of the 152 paragraphs or provisions of the Decree that are applicable to the Department, the Federal Monitor believes that as of June 1, 2004, we are compliant (95% or better) with 81 provisions, noncompliant with 54 provisions, and the decision has been withheld on the remaining 17. The Department’s assessment indicates that as of June 1, 2004, we are compliant with 118 provisions, noncompliant with 32 (although 16 are 80 % or better), and the decision withheld on 2 provisions. Based on these evaluations, I as Chief of Police, am certain that on June 15, 2006, the Department will be found to be in substantial compliance with nearly all provisions of the Decree as required. The exception, provisions that relate to the TEAMS II computerization project, the risk management program that helps identify employees with at-risk behaviors, which, because of many factors and complications beyond the control of the Department, the City or federal government, proved to be incapable of completing by the end of the fifth year. While clearly much more needs to be done over the next 24 months, I am confident that the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department will continue to work to achieve compliance. I salute them for the effort and commitment that are so necessary to the restoration of the Department’s pride, tradition, and image as America’s, if not the world’s, finest police Department – second to none. I know the Decree, the many changes it brings and the work required makes it unpopular with many in the department. It is truly unfortunate that the criminal activity of a few officers and insufficient management practices and oversight caused its creation, but that is water under the bridge. Much of the Department’s training over the past two years has focused on consent decree issues and best practices. I am very confident that the officers will eventually see and experience that the benefits in terms of improved practices, procedures, technology, citizen respect, and officer safety will have been well worth the effort. I am very proud of the story that members of this Department are giving me to tell of a reinvigorated organization, that while significantly understaffed and under-resourced, is achieving Consent Decree compliance, significant crime reductions and significant improved relations with this City’s diverse population. They are doing it all because of who they are and how good they are. Over the next several years, building on the best practices being developed by Consent Decree compliance, improved technology, that in many instances the City is forced to buy because of the Decree, and the officers dedicated and courageous efforts, the Los Angeles Police Department will be, in reality and reputation, once again without equal in law enforcement. I would like to give special thanks to the men and women of the Consent Decree Unit, along with the many other members of the Department and City family (the Consent Decree work group), who have helped us to move forward successfully to meet or exceed the mandates of the Decree. In that regard, not only are we “promoting the use of best available practices” as the Department did for so many years, we are once again creating the best practices and policies for others to follow. Los Angeles has the best cops and the most dedicated civilian employees that any Chief could be privileged to lead. I thank them for all that they have done over the last three years, and all that they are still doing. I am confident they will continue their hard work as the Department moves forward toward full compliance—doing it constitutionally, consistently, and compassionately while enhancing our reputation as a community police department that embraces partnership, problem solving, and prevention of fear, crime, and disorder. CRIME STATISTICS - CITY-WIDE Year to Date as of July 24, 2004 Homicide Up 4.9% Rape Down -5.7% Robbery Down -16.7% Aggravated Assault Down -14.7% Child/Spousal Abuse Down -12.3% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL VIOLENT CRIMES Down -15.0% Burglary Down -7.3% Burglary/Theft from Vehicle Down -8.2% Personal/Other Theft Down -7.3% Auto Theft Down -10.7% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL PROPERTY CRIMES Down -8.4% WILLIAM J. BRATTON Chief of Police To unsubscribe from this newsletter please click on this link http://listserv.lacity.org/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=lapd_monthly&A=1