By Peter Celauro
Staff Writer
William J. Bratton stepped off the plane from New York little more than a month ago. But in that time, Los Angeles’ new police chief has made one thing completely clear: everything will change.
Sworn in Oct. 28, the ex-New York police commissioner didn’t inherit a shining jewel of a department. The LAPD of former Chief Bernard C. Parks and his predecessors was plagued by incidents of police brutality, racial profiling and low morale, a reason many say Mayor James K. Hahn rejected Parks’ bid for a second term.
“I sense that in the past officers in the LAPD were intimidated to respond to different types of cases, particularly involving people of color,” Assistant Professor of Religion Dr. Daniel Rodriguez said. Rodriguez is the minister at the Hollywood Church of Christ in the heart of the LAPD’s jurisdiction.
“They were afraid they were going to be seen as racist or that something they were saying or doing would be used against them,” Rodriguez added.
Given the department’s history of internal problems, Bratton understands that the first — and most important — change must come from within the department itself.
Since his arrival Bratton has expressed his plans to modify everything from the LAPD’s mind- set about crime to the actual structure of personnel.
“The organizational chart currently makes no sense,” Bratton said. “It looks like it was put together by three blind men.”
Brash and outspoken, Bratton has begun to work toward the change by requesting submissions of “resumes, photos, accomplishments and plans for the future” from all 114 captains, commanders and chiefs.
Though he is limited from immediately dismissing anyone by Civil Service rules, he has already named several people for his “new, energized command staff,” and is currently interviewing others.
But Bratton’s internal changes aren’t his only goal. Once a Boston beat cop himself, the new chief emphasized the importance of more active policing on the streets.
“We have 9,000 officers smiling and waving as they drive around in their cars,” Bratton said, according to a Los Angeles Times article. “A cop riding around in a car … is not what a cop is meant to do.”
Bratton is also adamant about targeting one thing that nobody would have guessed: Los Angeles’ unbridled graffiti.
Making vandalism reduction a priority is part of the “broken windows” policing strategy. A Los Angeles Times article described the strategy as “early police intervention on small problems in order to head off more serious crime in the future.” Bratton hates graffiti “with a passion,” seeing it as a good place to draw the line for criminals.
“You cannot let them control your streets,” Bratton said. “If they’re trying to do it by marking the streets with graffiti, then get rid of it.”
L.A. gang members aren’t the only people feeling uncomfortable about Bratton’s swearing-in. Nate Holden, councilman to the 10th District, cast the only “no” vote in Bratton’s election as chief. At one point during the council hearing during which Bratton was elected, Holden also accused Bratton of allowing the NYPD to engage in racial profiling as a means of lowering crime.
“I cannot in good conscience approve Mr. Bratton for this position without a thorough questioning of his past performance,” Holden said.
Though it may be too soon to tell if Holden’s reservations are well founded, Bratton has already begun his zealous efforts to turn around Los Angeles and its police department.
In his speech to the LAPD leaders, the chief revealed that he has a list of more than two-dozen priorities for the first 60 days of his administration. He also promised a transparent department with no secrets, expressed concern for the department’s relatively small amount of personnel, and has stated that he will personally oversee meetings during which captains are held accountable for knowing about crime trends and creating plans of action.
November 14, 2002