Greetings from the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. The following is the monthly update for June 2005. We hope you find the information useful. You are encouraged to continue to visit our website at www.lapdonline.org as it has recently been redesigned and updated. CHIEF’S MESSAGE As we end this current fiscal year and begin a new one July 1, I want to update you on a number of issues that will soon impact the Department in the months ahead. In April, the Police Commission approved two new methods that can be used to end pursuits earlier and more safely, reducing the risk to the public, to those being pursued, and to the pursuing officers. At a recent event at the Davis Training Facility in Granada Hills, the new methods were demonstrated to the local media. The Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT maneuver, when done properly is an effective and non-evasive method of ending a pursuit when certain conditions exist. The PIT maneuver should only be used at speeds of 35 miles-per-hour or less, when no pedestrians or other vehicles are in the immediate area, and only on wide roadways. So far, about 500 officers have been trained in the use of the PIT maneuver. Eventually the Department’s entire patrol force will be trained. Also demonstrated at this event was the deployment of the Stop Stick tire deflation device. The Stop Stick device weighs about four and a half pounds and can be thrown by an officer up to 60 feet across a roadway. When properly deployed, they extend about 12 feet across the road surface. Each Stop Stick contains small quill-like spikes that pierce the tires of the vehicle being pursued, allowing a gradual release of air so that the vehicle is controllable as it becomes disabled. The Stop Stick can safely be used on vehicles travelling up to 65 miles-per-hour. We expect to purchase 1,141 Stop Sticks with the goal of having them available in every black and white patrol vehicle. Another issue that you no doubt have heard about is Special Order Number 40. Both Assistant Chief George Gascón and I have spent a great deal of time with community leaders and the Hispanic media to explain that we will be clarifying the policy. In summary, Special Order Number 40’s language will not change. LAPD officers are still prohibited from asking a person their immigration status. But this prohibition has never applied to those cases where people are convicted in the United States of serious offenses, primarily violent felonies, aggravated narcotic offenses and multiple misdemeanors and are later deported. In compliance with specific Department policies and guidelines, officers can arrest individuals wanted for illegal reentry when they recognize someone they know has been convicted and deported and has reentered the country illegally, making them subject to an illegal reentry warrant or want. These are the worst of the worst, they prey on their own communities, robbing, raping, extorting and murdering people. Working to get them off the streets is consistent with the idea of focusing enforcement on the small percentage of the criminal population who are disproportionately responsible for a large percentage of crime. Once clarifications are made to Special Order Number 40, we will begin comprehensive training to make sure the Order and the clarified procedures are being implemented and enforced Departmentwide on a consistent basis. The City’s budget situation is much improved over last year. Money has been approved to hire 760 new officers, including 360 officers for anticipated retirements and other attrition, replace two helicopters, and improve our technology. Due to the success of the digital license plate recognition system currently deployed in Rampart Area, 20 of these systems will be acquired for the next fiscal year. Each geographic Area will soon be able to utilize this state-of-the-art technology that can scan, recognize and process the license plates of several hundred cars within a 15-minute period. Also approved were 25 firearm training simulators, enough for one simulator at each of the 19 geographic Areas. This next fiscal year, we will also be buying 424 new black and whites to replace 301 patrol vehicles. We will be replacing 110 motorcycles with new state-of-the-art Harley-Davidson Electra Glide bikes. After a very competitive bid process, Harley Davidson came in with the best deal for this Department, meeting all our specifications, including anti-lock braking systems, a new feature that addresses an important officer safety issue. Now that the new West Valley Station is open, and Mission, the first new Area station since 1978, is operational, I want to update you on the Department’s efforts to bring our police facilities into the twenty-first century. Construction is anticipated to begin on the replacement station in Harbor Area, and on the new 20th Area Station, tentatively referred to as Mid-City Area, this July with occupancy of both facilities expected in early 2008. Construction is also expected to begin in September this year on the replacement stations in Rampart and Hollenbeck Areas. Both these projects are projected for occupancy in January 2008. The Los Angeles Regional Crime Lab, our collaborative effort with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and Cal State L.A., is currently under construction with occupancy anticipated in the fall of 2006. In the area of new technology, 1,500 new Dell 610 laptop computers have recently been delivered to the Department, with installation into patrol vehicles to begin in August. These new computers, easily removable for maintenance, will be integrated into the field reporting system and will replace the 1995 Windows technology currently powering our laptops. As a forward-moving and progress-minded organization, we are showing the people of Los Angeles and beyond that this Department is determined to be in the forefront of the profession. By utilizing the best practices, the best equipment, and by being ahead of the curve in addressing critical policing issues, we position ourselves to achieve our goal of being the worldwide leader in law enforcement. Next year’s budget is a significant step in the right direction to eventually staff and equip the Department to move closer toward that goal. CRIME STATISTICS - CITY-WIDE Year to Date as of May 28, 2005 Homicide Down -6.0% Rape Down -28.7% Robbery Down -9.2% Aggravated Assault Down -39.0% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL VIOLENT CRIMES Down -28.2% Burglary Down -9.3% Burglary/Theft from Vehicle Down -17.7% Personal/Other Theft Down -13.8% Auto Theft Down -10.1% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL PROPERTY CRIMES Down -13.4% TOTAL PART 1 CRIMES Down -17.1% 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