3rd Annual Teen Police Conference
By Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino, Teen CPAB Coordinator
On Thursday, April 2, 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Teen Community Police Advisory Board (Teen CPAB) held its third Annual Teen Police Conference at the San Pedro Crowne Plaza. 250 students from area High Schools and members from LAPD youth programs took part of the City’s only teen police conference. The conference began on a high note with messages of the importance of having strong character and believing in oneself by Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. Chief Paysinger was joined by LAPD Harbor Area Captain William Hayes, Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, School Board Member Dr. Richard Vladovic.
The conference committee was coordinated by the LAPD’s first Teen Community Police Advisory Board. Teen CPAB, which was fathered by Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino, is an organization including teens who break down the barriers between police officers and teenagers. Teen CPAB tackles complex issues involving teens and encourages them to problem solve with the police department.
Since its inception in January 2006, Harbor Area has experienced a decrease in youth violence. In addition, Teen CPAB has produced and disseminated two public service announcements on the negative impacts of graffiti and the consequences of a curfew arrest. Additionally, the teen organization has assisted eight other LAPD stations with starting their own respective Teen CPABs.
Participants had an opportunity to attend three breakout sessions that focused on gang intervention/prevention measures, the negative impacts of driving under the influence, racial understanding and making the right choices.
The Conference was summed up with a phenomenal keynote address from Chief William J. Bratton, who gave us an inspirational message of character and making the right choices in order to be productive members of society.
What a fantastic program...This conference should go Citywide!
Posted by: Bob Fuentes | April 22, 2009 at 06:27 PM
I agree!
Posted by: San Diego Criminal Law | June 11, 2009 at 07:02 AM
This conference was very successful...Everything ran smoothly and we got our messages accross to the teens...we hope to expand the conference next year and are currently working on ideas...we hope next year will be bigger and better then ever before
Posted by: Christopher Payne and Hector Garcia (teen cpab co-chair and secretary) | June 12, 2009 at 10:30 AM