• Police Commission President Steve Soboroff said today was day 100 of the new Commissioners’ tenure on the Board. He said a learning curve still exists but thanked the Department for their cooperation.
• Police Chief Charlie Beck informed the Board overall violent crime in the City is 11.5% lower as compared to this same point last year. He added overall gang crime is down 17.7% for the year as well.
• The verbal presentation and update from the Commanding Officer and Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) representative regarding community initiated problem solving, crimes strategies, and other programs and goals within the Topanga Area was given by Captain Joel Justice and Mr. Bob Basch. Mr. Basch informed the Board the Topanga Area C-PAB currently has 28 members and has three youth programs: Cadets, Junior Cadet and the Jeopardy program. One of the goals of the Topanga C-PAB is improve the quality of the front desk service and to maintain the tree committee at the station.
• The presentation and discussion relative to the Police Orientation Preparation Program (POPP) was given by Captain Brenda Crump. Captain Crump stated the POPP program began in 2009 as a partner between the Los Angeles Unified School District, West Los Angeles College and the LAPD. This partnership is open to high school seniors and first year college students at West Los Angeles College. The program aims to get students ready for a career in law enforcement while allowing them to receive college credit. To date, 244 four students have successfully completed the program and expansion is planned in the near future.
• The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to police radio communications reception was given by Ms. Maggie Goodrich. Ms. Goodrich informed the Board the communications system has excellent coverage with a 2001 Motorola digital radio system. She said the reach of signal goes far beyond the City limits and the contract for the hand-held radios is up for renewal next year. Ms. Goodrich added the only issues with the radio system is only one radio at a time can broadcast. This can become an issue in an incident where there are many officers who are trying to use the radio at the same time.
• The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the Metropolitan Division Mounted Unit was given by Captain Vito Palazzolo. Captain Palazzolo informed the Board the Mounted Unit began as a pilot program in 1981 to perform such tasks as policing events with large crowds. The Department currently has 30 horses with numerous trucks and trailers to mobile the unit anywhere in the City. Each horse goes through 200 hours of training with funding provided by the Mounted Police Foundation. Captain Palazzolo completed his comments by stating each horse can serve between 10-18 years and this year the unit will be riding in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.
• The Department’s report, dated December 6, 2013, relative to the request for approval of master services agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc., was approved and transmitted to the Mayor.
• The Department’s report, dated December 6, 2013, relative to the first amendment to the agreements between the City of Los Angeles and RMI International, Inc. (C-122078) for security guard services, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor.
• The Executive Director’s report, dated November 26, 2013, relative to the official police garage towing & storage rates 2014 – posting completed, was approved.
• The Department’s report, dated November 22, 2013, relative to the supplemental police account second quarterly report (April through June 2013), was approved and transferred to the City Council and City Controller.
• The Department’s report, dated November 27, 2013, relative to the supplemental police account third quarter report (July through September 2013) was approved and transmitted to the City Council and City Controller.
• The Executive Director’s report, dated December 5, 2013, relative to the review and transmittal of the request for proposal for official police garage (OPG) towing and storage services, was approved and transmitted to the City Council.
• The Inspector General’s report, dated December 10, 2013, relative to the Ethics Enforcement quarterly reports, calendar year 2012, was approved.
Comments