Notes from the Tuesday, August 14, 2024 Police Commission Weekly Meeting

•Assistant Chief Earl C. Paysinger reported there are currently 393 recruits in the Police Academy, with the ethnic breakdown of 8.65% Black, 51% Hispanic, 7.38% Asian/Pacific Islander, 31.55% Caucasian, 1.78% Filipino. 83.46% are male and 16.54% are females.

•A moment of silence was held for Police Officer III Bob Cantrell.

•The Executive Director reported on the regulation of tow operations within the City.

•The Inspector General reported that the investigation of the January 2006 officer involved shooting involving Matthew Powell is nearing completion. 

•Executive Director Richard Tefank introduced Lt. Doug Miller, the new Commanding Officer of Community Relations Section, to the Commission.

•The Department's report, dated August 9, 2007, relative to a donation of equipment in the amount of $36,356.80, to be used by the Chief of Police and senior staff members, from the Los Angeles Police Foundation, was approved.   

•The Department's report, dated August 7, 2007, relative to a request for Travel Authority for the Chief of Police to travel to Aspen, Colorado from August 23 through August 26, 2007, to participate as a speaker at the 2007 The Aspen Institute on the subject of “Policing Terrorism,” was approved.            

•The verbal presentation and discussion, relative to the Department's policy as it relates to participation in U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency enforcement at medical marijuana dispensaries, was given by Commander David Doan.

•The verbal presentation and discussion from the Department, relative to the process and methodology for deploying police resources, was presented by Sgt. Dan Gomez, OIC Field Deployment Unit, and Captain Robert Hauck, Special Assistant to the Assistant Director of Office of Operations.

•Commissioner Skobin outlined the joint efforts he and the Department have made toward improving the radio system now, and also in the future, as a high priority for the Police Commission.  First, a preventative maintenance program is now in place that serves all Areas to improve the reliability of Astro radios. Second, funding has been identified for the installation of 2,700 in-car radios.  Third, there is an effort to identify both short and long term funding sources to replace the current Astro radios. And fourth, Commissioner Skobin strongly urged to have each officer assigned his or her own radio, which will benefit the Department and community in many ways and serve as a “force multiplier.”  This item was continued for additional information and periodic status updates.

•The Department's report, in response to City Council request (Council File No. 07-1331), relative to methamphetamine related arrests and convictions, and strategies for suppression of methamphetamine production and trafficking, as set forth, was approved.

•The Executive Director's report, relative to Proposed Fee Changes for Renewal and Relocation Permits for Fiscal Year 2007/2008, was approved.

•The Department's report, in response to City Council request (Council File No. 06-0600S78), relative to Year-end Adjustment and Financial Status Report, was approved.

•The Department's report, relative to the Ethics Enforcement Section Quarterly Report, Second Quarter 2007, in accordance with the Annual Audit Plan, was approved.

•The Department's report, relative to the Amended Discipline Report, First Quarter 2007, Table L, in accordance with Paragraph 88 of the Consent Decree, was approved.

•The Department's report, relative to the Activity Report for the month of May 2007, was approved.

•The Department's report, in response to City Council request, relative to evaluating the feasibility and cost of using Senior Detention Officers for prisoner release at the Los Angeles County Courts, was approved.

Comments

[Jim Reed]

The topic of replacements for the worn out and out of date Astro radios has again been postponed. I only hope that the Commission has NOT allowed politics and "budget" concerns to overshadow the critical importance of replacement radios.

If indeed the Commission is concerned about Police Officer safety, they should be demanding updates each and every meeting so as to give the message to the City of Los Angeles that the safety of its officers is of critical importance.

[anthony sullivan]

I hear that the mother of Mathew Powell is crying Rampart corruption. Powell was the suspect that was handcuffed and then pulled out a .357 cal handgun and shot officer Taylor 4 times. Powell was then shot 4 times in the head and died at scene. His mother is saying that befor the whole shooting an R/A was called and obsd Powell alive with a scratch to his forhead. I guess the lawyers got to her first and filled her head with lies. Powell was handcuffed and was trying to kill a police Officer WITH A GUN. Inside sources say he even told officer Taylor that was his intention. I think i even heard the inspector general hint that the shooting seemed alittle suspicious to him. Unbelievable. Powell tried to kill a police officer. He got what he deserved. This scum bag lawyer is trying to get what he can from the city, and i'll bet this city will settle with Powells mother. The LA Daily blog about the inccident has people blogging saying how nice Powell was, and that they cant believe he would do such a thing. Well if they don't believe it why don't thet go ask officer Taylor to show his bullet holes in his body. Rediculous. What do they think, a cop shot himself 4 times so he could kill a pore nice boy, who happened to be black. They need to stop living in DisneyLand. Powell had warrants for his arrest out of North Carolina. One for resisting arrest. He was a known drug dealer out of North Hollywood. WOW he doesn't seem like a nice little young man his mom and all the ambulance chasers claim he was. Powell is where he belongs. 6 feet under. Where he can do no more harm against anyone, including our city real heros, THE COPS!