LAPPL Blog: The official blog of the Los Angeles Policy Protective League
LAPD’s community outreach to youth is a national model
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 07/21/2010 @ 04:05 PM
LAPD, once again, is setting the standard – this time for community outreach to youths through its highly acclaimed LAPD Cadets Program. One of the highlights of the program is the Youth Leadership Day, which is spearheaded by Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. On July 13, more than 1,200 cadets attended the third annual event to discover the rewards of public service by spending a full day as a partner with a member of the Department's leadership team.
It was a memorable day for everyone, as witnessed by a great video posted at www.LAPDcadets.com. The day’s activities began with a keynote address from Chief Charlie Beck, who praised the cadets’ commitment to becoming the next generation of leaders. Throughout the day, youth participants had the opportunity to tour various LAPD facilities across the City, as well as observe presentations by SWAT, Dive Team and the Bomb Squad. Special thanks go to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Capitol Records, ABC 7 and NBC 4 for also opening their doors to these young leaders.
During this year’s enhanced program, the LAPD also presented scores of academic scholarships (which exceeded $10,000), laptop computers and other awards to students who distinguished themselves by academic performance and community service.
Youth Leadership Day is a great example of how LAPD is enhancing its youth initiatives to encourage young people to make the right choices, while making our neighborhoods safer.
A recipe for disaster: Three weapons, body armor and two strikes
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 07/20/2010 @ 03:59 PM
It began as a “routine” traffic stop on Interstate 580 in the Bay Area. On Saturday night two CHP officers spotted a white 2006 Toyota Tundra speeding and weaving across lane markers. As one of the officers approached the vehicle, the driver opened fire. A call for backup brought eight more CHP officers to the scene, who upon arrival returned fire for about 15 minutes. The suspect, Bryon Christopher Williams, was seriously wounded. Two CHP officers, who were treated for injuries caused from shattered glass, were later released from a hospital.
As more details emerge (reported in today's Oakland Tribune), authorities believe Williams, facing a third strike, may have been planning a violent crime spree even more serious than the gunfight with the CHP officers. Police said Williams was wearing body armor and was armed with a high-powered hunting rifle, a pistol and a shotgun at the time of the stop. Inside the suspect's truck, police also found a suspicious object that prompted investigators to call a bomb squad. The object was detonated Sunday without incident as I-580 was closed in both directions for several hours.
Williams, who’s had a long and violent criminal history, has been out of prison three years on federal parole. Adding to the potential charges the suspect faces is a new state law - one championed by LAPPL and other law enforcement organizations - that restricts the possession of body armor by violent felons in California.
We commend the CHP officers for their expertise and professionalism in removing a dangerous suspect from society. We are grateful that all of the officers involved are OK and can return to full duty following normal administrative reviews. There is little doubt that they likely prevented a major tragedy with the potential magnitude of which we are only now beginning to fully comprehend.
The virtue of old-fashioned police work in a new era of policing
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 07/09/2010 @ 12:00 PM
"This will change the way policing is done in the United States.”
That’s how Chief Beck characterized the arrest of Grim Sleeper suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr., on 10 counts of murder and other charges in killings in Los Angeles between 1985 and 2007. It marked the first time in the nation that familial DNA had been used to break such a high-profile case and that fact made it an even bigger news story around the world.
We agree with the Chief’s assessment of the significance of this long-awaited arrest. And we’re sure he will agree with us that this case is very much about old-fashioned undercover police work and the determination of LAPD officers and detectives to never close a case until an arrest is made and a criminal is brought to justice – even if it takes 25 years.
The arrest in the Grim Sleeper case came after an LAPD undercover officer, pretending to be a waiter, collected tableware, napkins, glasses and pizza crust at a restaurant where the suspect dined, according to multiple news reports. That enabled LAPD detectives and California Department of Justice officials to get the conclusive DNA match that led to Franklin’s stunning arrest.
As details of what led to the arrest emerged on Thursday, the father of one victim admitted he thought police had given up ever making an arrest. "It shows today that the long arm of the law still prevailed," said Porter Alexander, father of victim Monique Alexander.
Advocates of familial searches believe more crimes will be solved in which there is DNA evidence. Indeed, LAPD detectives are reexamining at least 30 unsolved killings of women in South Los Angeles to determine if they can link any of them to the man accused of being the Grim Sleeper serial killer.
To all the LAPD officers, detectives and command staff who tirelessly worked this perplexing and often frustrating case over the past quarter century, the arrest was a very satisfying and even exhilarating moment. It brought a sense of huge relief and a degree of closure to the victims’ families and communities. Much work remains to be done in preparing the evidence for prosecution and conviction.
For now, we savor this moment of outstanding interagency cooperation, effective application of cutting edge technology, and - above all - the dedication and perseverance of the justifiably proud men and women of America’s premier police force.
A troubling trend at mid-year
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 07/08/2010 @ 09:50 AM
Official FBI mid-year statistics are yet to be released, but it is clear that law enforcement officer deaths in the United States are up sharply compared with the same period last year. The Officer Down Memorial Page pegs the number of LEO in-the-line-of-duty deaths at mid-year at 90. That number represents a 30 percent increase over the 69 LEO deaths in the line of duty at the same point last year. Sadly, California leads the nation with nine of the 90 line-of-duty deaths.
PoliceOne.com, meanwhile, reports that a disturbing trend from 2009 is continuing this year with four more single incident/multiple officer killings so far this year, including one shocking case in California: On Feb. 25, Fresno County Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier was shot and killed as he and another deputy assisted the California Fire Marshall’s office in serving an arson warrant. As they approached the suspect’s mobile home, he fired a rifle at the deputies, killing Deputy Wahlenmaier and wounding his partner. Officer Javier Bejar of nearby Reedly, Calif. Police Department responded to an “officer needs assistance” call and was shot and critically wounded immediately upon his arrival. He succumbed to those injuries four days later, on March 1.
As we pause to reflect on the tragic statistics, we remember each officer who made the ultimate sacrifice, while upholding their duty. We are also painfully aware that throughout our nation, law enforcement agencies are being asked more of with less resources. This frustrating fact puts all of us in law enforcement at greater risk. Clearly, there has never been a time where it was more important to stay vigilant and stay safe.
As the temperature rises, traditionally so does crime
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 07/07/2010 @ 10:05 AM
In Los Angeles, as the summer approaches and the temperature rises, we can expect to see crime rates rise, as well. Homicide is already up (although the current rate is still substantially down from prior years) and we are foreseeing other crimes to increase as well through summer.
The latest COMPSTAT figures show that Los Angeles has had 161 homicides this year. When compared to last year’s 146 homicides during the same period—it indicates a 10.2% increase in murders.
While experts have various theories as to why crime generally increases in the summer, we know that a big factor is that people tend to drink more with hotter temperatures—giving rise to more alcohol-related incidents. We also know that the summer generally means more burglaries, because people are more likely to be out of their houses or on vacation, and tend to leave doors and windows open, making it easier for opportunist criminals to break in.
However, stopping crime in the summer can be as simple as following a few simple rules. Some of the easiest ways to protect yourself and your family include:
- Locking your doors and turning on some lights at night. The great majority of theft and burglary reports the LAPD takes are the result of unlocked car and home doors.
- Don't leave valuables in cars, including cell phones, GPS systems, money or other costly items.
- Join your local LAPD neighborhood crime watch program and make agreements with your neighbors to call the police if you see something unusual.
- If you’re enjoying the sunshine at the back of the house, make sure the front windows and doors are closed and locked. Likewise, if you’re settling down to watch TV in the front room in the evening, remember to close and lock the back door and windows.
With LAPD officers being pulled from police field work to backfill vacant civilian positions, it’s more important than ever that Los Angeles residents be extra vigilant this summer. Another dramatic impact on our ability to respond to calls for service (and keep crime down) is LAPD having approximately 30 less police cars to cover a city comprising 469 square miles.
Acting as the city's ambassador
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 07/02/2010 @ 03:52 PM
The recent stories about Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's acceptance of free tickets to entertainment and sporting events, which are now the subject of several investigations, avoids a very important subject that should be discussed: the need for the City of Los Angeles to have a Mayor (no matter who it is) who is dedicated to the economic growth of our community by strengthening existing business, attracting new people to the City and being our ambassador to the world.
In our view, the Mayor would not be doing his job if he were not attending the high-profile events that spotlight our City’s accomplishments. We understand and support all the reporting requirements now in place, but if the issue comes down to money, then the Council should put money in the City budget to pay for the Mayor to attend high-profile events.
In order to keep the City of Los Angeles’ economic engine going, we need our Mayor promoting Los Angeles as a great place to do business and to live. We need to have a Mayor who promotes business development, supports local professional sports teams, works with the business and development community and civic organizations to further economic development and bring jobs to Los Angeles.
While the recent spotlight has been on acceptance of tickets and reporting, we think that the discussion needs to be expanded to the topic of needing a Mayor who will be the leader in creating a vibrant business climate—one that’s accessible, user-friendly and welcoming to all. We believe that part of achieving that goal is being a visible figure on the local, state and national stage.
Grieving with our CHP colleagues
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 07/01/2010 @ 04:14 PM
Grieving with our CHP colleagues
The entire law enforcement community is reeling from the line of duty deaths of five California Highway Patrol officers in the last two months. The toll makes 2010 the deadliest year for the CHP in more than a decade. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families, friends and colleagues of these five selfless and dedicated officers who committed their lives to protecting the safety of millions of California residents and visitors.
As with any other law enforcement career, being a CHP officer can be dangerous. Officers provide public safety every day to those who are in need of our assistance whether it’s in a hazardous situation or a controlled environment. The CHP provides the best training available to ensure that the duties of an officer are carried out in the safest way possible, both for the public, as well as the officer. What makes these deaths especially hard to understand is that the officers were doing the right thing. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger summed up the feelings of many when he said, “Each has been a terrible loss for our state, and together they underscore what a dangerous job our CHP officers face every day. We can all help prevent tragedies and save lives by giving our officers space when they are making a traffic stop."
The members of the Los Angeles Police Protective League are united as one as we mourn the loss of these five outstanding officers:
Officer Brett Oswald
Officer Brett Oswald of San Luis Obispo died in the line of duty on June 27. He served as a CHP officer for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Marlene Oswald; mother, Linda Oswald; and father, Richard Oswald.
Officer Justin McGrory
Officer Justin McGrory of Barstow died in the line of duty on June 27. He served as a CHP officer for nearly three years and is the son of retired CHP Lieutenant Robert McGrory. Officer McGrory is survived by his expectant wife Kelly McGrory; father, Robert McGrory; mother, Jeana McGrory; son Liam (1 year old); stepson, Cade Hamilton (4 years old); and stepdaughter, Erin Hamilton (7 years old).
Officer Philip Ortiz
Officer Philip Ortiz of Los Angeles died in the line of duty on June 22. Officer Ortiz served as a CHP officer for 28 years, including as a motor officer for over 20 years in the West Los Angeles Area. He is survived by his wife, parents, sister and a large extended family.
Officer Thomas P. Coleman
Officer Thomas P. Coleman of San Bernardino Officer died in the line of duty on June 7. He is survived by his wife, two young children, mother, three sisters and brother, LAPD Officer I Mike Loizzi of Devonshire Area.
Officer Daniel Benavides
Officer Daniel Benavides of the Border Division died in the line of duty on May 7. He had served as a CHP officer for more than 13 years. He is survived his wife and their 9-year-old daughter.
Like city policing, patrolling the roads and highways of our state, is a dangerous profession. We hope and pray it will be a very long time before we mourn the loss of any more of our fellow officers, regardless of which agency they belong to.
MEMORIAL FUNDS FOR RECENTLY FALLEN CHP OFFICERS
Memorial funds for Officers Thomas Coleman, Philip Ortiz and Justin McGrory:
Accounts are set up at CAHP Credit Union. Make checks payable to their wives (see below).
Mail checks to:
CAHPCU
PO Box 826
San Dimas, CA 91773
Officer Thomas Coleman – Make checks payable to Jamie Coleman
Officer Philip Ortiz – Make checks payable to Jessica Ortiz
Officer Justin McGrory – Make checks payable to Kelly McGrory
Memorial fund for Officer Brett Oswald:
SLO LEAF (Law Enforcement Assistance Foundation) (Identify Officer Oswald in the memo line or on a note with cash) 200 N. Halcyon Rd. Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
LAPD puts politics over public safety
By LAPPL Board of Directors on 06/17/2010 @ 05:14 PM
Apparently, symbolism instead of public safety is going to be the guiding principle for the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Police Department.
In an attempt to pressure the state of Arizona, the City of Los Angeles voted to boycott business with Arizona when it passed Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070), which addresses illegal immigrants. Several months prior to this City Council action, the Los Angeles Police Department registered four Air Support Division officers to attend the annual Airborne Law Enforcement Association Conference, held at a different location every year. This year’s conference, hosted by the United States Border Patrol in July, will be held in Tucson, Arizona. This conference allows interaction with many other police agencies within airborne operations and is a forum to share valuable information that leads to safety and efficiency improvements among the participating agencies.
The City’s boycott, which banned official travel to Arizona unless “special circumstances exist,” led City Councilmembers Greig Smith and Bernard Parks to introduce a motion with the first request for an exemption to the policy. If passed, the motion would allow the four officers to attend this highly regarded conference, where they would exchange best practices with fellow law enforcement air support personnel from around the country. This week, the council took up the issue and then delayed making a decision by suggesting that private donors pay for the trip. Before the issue could be decided and donors secured, the LAPD suddenly decided to cancel the officers’ training, despite prior approval and long history of attendance.
Apparently, the LAPD command staff decided that it should spare the City Council the embarrassment of voting on this issue. By placing political correctness above public safety, the Department did itself no favors. Clearly the training, considered to be one of the premier trainings for air support policing, was important enough for the Department to approve sending them in the first place – despite the budgetary constraints and long before the City Council enacted its boycott.
While we have not taken a political position on SB 1070, we are supportive of an honest public debate on the Arizona law by elected officials. The decision to boycott Arizona was a political one by the City Council. The LAPD did their officers and the residents of Los Angeles a great disservice by jumping into the political arena to try to spare councilmembers from addressing a consequence of their prior vote.
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