Notes from the September 8, 2024 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

•    Police Commission President John Mack said the Board is holding another community meeting on the west side regarding the new Chief of Police.  President Mack encouraged members of the community to come out and voice their opinions on what qualities they would like to see in the new Police Chief.

•    Police Commission Vice-President Andrea Ordin said she attended the first of a series of community meetings regarding the new Chief of Police and was impressed with the people who attended and the feedback they offered.

•    Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman spent a half-day last week learning about the Department’s SWAT team and observed a training session that he described as “very productive.”

•    First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said he would be attending the Department’s 10th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference on Wednesday, September 9.  He added there is always a good turnout for this event.  Chief McDonnell also informed the Board there are currently 317 new recruits in the academy.

•    The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the status of the DNA backlog was given by Deputy Chief Charlie Beck.  Chief Beck informed the Board that as of last week the current back-log of untested kits was 3,266, which represents a 57% reduction from the 7500 untested kits from a year ago.  He said he anticipated having the back-log completely eliminated by July of 2011.  Chief Beck added Scientific Investigation Division hired 10 Criminalists last year and will hire 16 more this year, making the Unit fully staffed by 2011.

•    The Department’s report, dated August 26, 2009, relative to the MacArthur Park, May 1, 2007, Investigation – Disciplinary Investigation and Summary Report, as given by Deputy Chief Mark Perez, was approved.  Chief Perez offered a synopsis of the investigation dating back to its inception.  He said in the hours immediately following the incident an internal investigation began.  Evidence collection was tedious with video and audio tapes and thousands of other things needing to be examined.  Investigators conducted interviews with 72 complainants and 150 police officers.  Once investigations were complete, three command staff officers designed the adjudication.  That adjudication was then presented to the Chief of Police for final recommendation.

•    The Department’s report, dated August 26, 2009, relative to Supplemental Police Account XXIII for Fiscal Year 2009/10, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor and City Council.

•    The Department’s report, dated August 27, 2009, relative to the request for approval of automated property information management system evaluation agreement with International Business Machines, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor.

•    The Department’s report, dated August 28, 2009, relative to the Semi-Annual Consent Decree Mental Illness Project Status Report – January through June 2009, as given by Captain Ann Young was approved and transmitted to the City Council, Public Safety Committee.  Captain Young informed the Board they have developed new strategies which include having a satellite unit in each of the Department bureaus.  She added the computer system for tracking has improved over the years and the entire Department participated in an e-learning course.

•    The Department’s report, dated September 4, 2009, relative to the Transmittal of Speed Awareness and Motorcycle Safety (SAMS) grant award from the California Office of Traffic Safety, was approved and transmitted to the Office of the Mayor and City Council.

•    The Inspector General’s report, dated September 1, 2009, relative to the Transition Agreement Implementation Plan, as given by Inspector General Andre Birotte, was approved.  Mr. Birotte stated the transition agreement between the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Justice is now in effect.  With the new agreement, much of the responsibility of monitoring the Department falls on the Police Commission and the Inspector General’s office.  The four areas of concern with regards to the agreement are bias policing, financial disclosure, TEAMS II continuation, and the management of gang units.  Mr. Birotte added they will continue to monitor other aspects such as complaint investigations and use of force.

Comments

[fedup]

Have the taxpaying citizens of Los Angeles been reimbursed the millions of dollars wasted on the 1st Michael Jackson funeral???