Notes from the January 10, 2012 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

• Police Commission President Richard Drooyan welcomed everyone back for the first Police Commission meeting of the year and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

• Police Commissioner Debra Wong Yang stated she took a tour of Olympic Area Police Station before the Christmas break and was able to observe the Cadet program and have some interaction with the members.  She said it was a pleasure.

• Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman thanked Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger for his efforts in helping the Los Angeles Police Cadet program earn a $1 million grant from the Ray Charles Foundation.  He also thanked the Department for their efforts in apprehending the Hollywood arsonist.  Commissioner Saltzman added the Sheriff Reservist who made the arrest was a student of his in the past.

• Police Chief Charlie Beck said the inter-agency coordination which led to the arrest of Harry Burkhart was amazing and thanked the thousands of officers involved throughout the county for their great work.  Chief Beck also said he rode in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on January 2 with the Mounted Unit, Honor Guard and Emerald Society.  He added it was the first time the unit has ridden in the parade in its history.  Chief Beck finished by recognizing Assistant Chief Paysinger and his office for their work in securing the grant from the Ray Charles Foundation for the Police Cadet program.

• The verbal presentation and update from the Commanding Officer and Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) representative regarding community initiated problem solving, crime strategies, and other programs and goals within the 77^th Street Area was given by Captain Dennis Kato and Ms. Gwen Woods. Ms. Woods informed the Board the 77^th C-PAB is focused on supporting existing activities in the Department and the Community rather than creating activities.  Some of these activities include National Night Out, 77^th carnival, Police Officer Appreciation Day and a Father’s Day event.  The goals for the coming year include doing more outreach, conducting disaster preparedness fair and increased involvement in Neighborhood Watch.

• The Executive Director’s report, dated December 22, 2011, relative to the official police garage towing and storage rates 2011 – posting completed, as set forth, was approved.

• The Executive Director’s report, dated December 29, 2011, relative to the proposed change in the corporate ownership of Ross Baker Towing, Inc., office police garage for service area 17 of Los Angeles Police Department contract no. C-107454 to United Towing, Inc., pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code section 80.77.4 (E) (2), was approved and transmitted to the Mayor and City Council.

• The Department report, dated December 22, 2011, relative to the supplemental police account XXV, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor and City Council.

• The Department’s report, dated December 14, 2011, relative to the transmittal of the grant application for the 2011 Forensic Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) backlog reduction program, was approved and transmitted concurrently to the Mayor and City Council.

• The Department’s report, dated December 15, 2011, relative to the pre-interview disclosure in complaint investigations, was continued for two weeks.

• The Department’s report, dated December 16, 2011, relative to the Board of Police Commissioners follow-up report to the Internal Audit and Inspection Division’s performance audit of Property Division, was approved.

• The Department’s report, dated December 15, 2011, relative to the non-categorical use of force investigations audit (IAID No. 11-089) was approved.

• The Department’s report, dated December 20, 2011, relative to the destruction of obsolete duplicate records for Rampart Area, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 6, 2012, relative to the response of Office of Controller 2^nd follow-up Audit-DNA Backlog, was approved and transmitted to the City Council and City Controller.

• The Inspector General’s report, dated December 12, 2011, relative to the South Bureau gang and narcotics complaint investigations audit, was approved.

• The Inspector General’s report, dated December 22, 2011, relative to the review of Department’s in-car video system audit, as given by Deputy Chief Patrick Gannon, was approved.   The Inspector General stated this was the first audit of the system since it was implemented.  The audit was found to be complete and in good quality.  The Department received a 95% compliance rate. Deputy Chief Gannon informed the Board they want to ensure all the bugs are worked out before they implement the system Citywide.

Comments

[Thank you Chief Beck.]

Thank you Chief Beck for beginning to promote those long overdue promotions for those of us on the 2010 Promotional Lists who waited so patiently. I know that your hands in essence are somewhat tied behind your back when it comes to control of City funds. Yet, City leaders do respect you and that's why you were chosen. You're wisdom and experience is in my little opinion is perhaps the reason why the leaders will listen to you. You're like a general in the military telling congress we cannot win a war if we don't have adequately trained & supervised personnel. I have great optimism for our Department and know that under you leadership we will not fall back to the days of the Rampart Scandals that tarnished our badge for awhile, it hurt many good officers' reputations but we got through it once the truth came out. With effective and adequate supervision we must always stive for great exectations, effectiveness in excellence, and finally more essential training like the old days of "Red Man", Bi Annual Shooting Days, not every other year, because we have to have the edge. Especially with all the recent Early Release of Parolees. Once again, Sir thank you and I know you do care about our welfare.