Greetings from the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. The following is the monthly update for November 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 Last month I focused my message on the Los Angeles Police Department family, our sworn, civilian, and reserve personnel, and the teamwork involved to make this organization function as efficiently and effectively as it does. Included in this family are a group of Department employees who are defending the ideals of democracy and bringing relief to those in need. They are the members of the LAPD who are on active military duty proudly serving our country. Some 500 Department employees are involved in either the National Guard or the armed forces reserves. Currently there are approximately 60 LAPD employees – both sworn and civilian – on long-term military duty. The Department has personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan; our people are working homeland defense duties in various locations around the country; and we even have employees assisting in the relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The LAPD has a long history of supporting our employees that are called to active duty. The Department makes up any lost pay the employee would incur due to their activation, and we continue to provide all benefits for the entire activation period. The employee continues to receive service credit, and accumulates annual vacation and salary step advancements. As part of the Department’s commitment to our active military service personnel, the Military Liaison Officer position was established in the Ombuds Office specifically to support our employees serving in the National Guard and Reserves and their families. These employees and their families face unique challenges during a separation. The Military Liaison Officer’s main objective is helping to reduce the burdens associated with military service. Because of the Department’s commitment, we are one of 15 employers nationally – out of 1,500 nominations – to be selected to receive the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award this year. I traveled to Washington, D.C. last month to accept the award on behalf of the men and women of the LAPD. For the past two years, my wife Rikki and I have sent a videotaped holiday message to all LAPD personnel serving on long-term military duty on behalf of the entire Department. This message was also sent to each of the families of those employees, along with a “Blue Star” banner provided by the Los Angeles Police Foundation. The history of the “Blue Star” banner dates back to World War I, when they were first hung in the front windows of the home of a family with a loved one serving in the armed forces. The Military Liaison received several responses of gratitude from the families that were quite touching and genuine. Although the Department offers financial and career support to our activated military personnel, I have encouraged Department personnel to also offer emotional support to these employees and their families. This is important year-round but it is especially important this time of year when families gather together to enjoy the holidays, participate in religious observances, and celebrate the end of another year. The rewards of this endeavor have far outweighed the effort put forth. An outstanding example of this was a letter I received last year from the parents of an officer who was deployed overseas during the holidays. The letters reads: --“Dear Sir, Last month my wife and I were visited by a Los Angeles Police Detective, that was our son’s old patrol partner. My purpose in writing is to tell you how touched my wife and I were by the very nice holiday greetings. The Detective was very impressive and the entire moment was one that we will cherish and remember always.”-- The following are Department employees who will be serving on active military duty during this holiday season. Mr. William Anderson Motor Transport Division Officer Jason Baldwin South Traffic Division Detective Stephanie Barr Harbor Area Officer Charles Barrett Harbor Area Officer David Budek Southeast Area Officer Christine Bulicz West Traffic Division Officer Anthony Choi Wilshire Area Officer Timothy Cooper Emergency Services Division Officer Cory Crawford Rampart Area Officer Stephen Crawford Planning and Research Division Sergeant Michael Daly Rampart Area Officer Scott Dewitt Valley Traffic Division Det. Officer Charles Duncan Jail Division Officer Renee Escobedo North Hollywood Area Mr. Arthur Fong Information Technology Division Officer Peter Gillies Air Support Division Officer Evan Guevarra Southwest Area Officer Christopher Haines Van Nuys Area Detective Sammy Hancock West Valley Area Officer Patrick Hassell Southwest Area Officer Benjamin Hetzler Southeast Area Officer Philip Karle Newton Area Officer Timothy Kevany Narcotics Division Officer Curtis Lawson Metropolitan Division Officer David Litaker Rampart Area Mr. Angelo Maldonado Central Traffic Division Officer Robert Mariotti North Hollywood Area Officer Brian Martin Narcotics Division Officer Antonio Martin Southwest Area Det. Officer Jose Melendez Jail Division Officer Robert Metoyer South Traffic Division Sergeant Jorge Pardo Hollenbeck Area Officer Robert Percy Air Support Division Sergeant Leonard Perez Central Area Officer Edward Petterez Newton Area Detective Michael Pinnaro Hollywood Area Officer Donald Poirier Metropolitan Division Officer Ryan Powell 77th Street Area Officer Brian Putnam Central Area Officer Annette Razo Newton Area Mr. Jerry Regis Special Operations Support Division Sergeant Theodore Reyland Special Operations Support Division Officer David Schnak Southeast Area Officer Francisca Soberanes North Hollywood Area Officer Thomas Stone Southeast Area Sergeant Daniel Talbot Pacific Area Officer Terrance Taylor Wilshire Area Officer Pedro Ugarte Van Nuys Area Detective Ronald Vongober Van Nuys Area Officer Michael Watson Devonshire Area Officer Robert White Valley Traffic Division Detective Brian Yori Commercial Crimes Division Even though they are far from home and their loved ones, they should never be far from our thoughts. Whether fighting on the front lines in the war in Iraq or fighting the battle to make Los Angeles the safest big city in America, they are all soldiers of justice and freedom. This holiday season I wish you and your families all the best. CRIME STATISTICS - CITY-WIDE Year to Date as of November 5, 2005 Homicide Down -5.2% Rape Down -20.9% Robbery Down -6.3% Aggravated Assault Down -41.0% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL VIOLENT CRIMES Down -28.5% Burglary Down -6.7% Burglary/Theft from Vehicle Down -13.2% Personal/Other Theft Down -12.2% Auto Theft Down -7.6% --------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL PROPERTY CRIMES Down -10.4% TOTAL PART 1 CRIMES Down -15.0% 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