Erich Hass, director of the Palisades Recreation Center, stands in the space off the entrance hallway of the big gym, which will be converted into a police facility. (Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer)

Aiming to improve a police presence in Pacific Palisades and deter vandalism at the Recreation Center, the Community Council last Thursday reiterated its support for an LAPD facility inside the large gym at the park.

Council members agreed with park director Erich Hass and Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore that enclosing a small, unused space off the entrance hallway to the gym and creating a dedicated space for LAPD officers to type up their crime sports and handle other administrative work makes sense.

Currently, patrol officers working in the Palisades have to drive to the West Los Angeles station about six miles away to file their reports. Having an unmanned office at the Recreation Center would enable them to work more efficiently while remaining in the Palisades.

Speaking to the Council, Hass said that having an LAPD car at the park at various times throughout the day and night would help curb the ongoing acts of vandalism he has witnessed since arriving here in April 2008.

'The teens [and other vandals] would never know when the police might be showing up, and that would act as a deterrent,' Hass said. 'Given the facility's location right off the lobby of the gym, people could also interact with the police and ask questions 'a form of community policing.'

After the meeting, Council member Haldis Toppel, who presented the motion requesting the facility, told the Palisadian-Post: 'There is consensus on the merits and needs for the implementation of the police facility within LAPD, Recreation and Parks and the community, but the administrative forces have not moved forward within the two involved Departments. Call it red tape. A strong stand by the community to increase police presence in the Palisades is needed to raise priorities on this project within LAPD and Rec and Parks.'

In 2009, Toppel's husband, Kurt, secured a $6,500 donation from American Legion Post 283 to pay for the project. Glenn Ricard Construction, based in Pacific Palisades, agreed to complete the project for that amount.

'Rec and Parks requires a letter of agreement with LAPD which includes that LAPD will pick up telephone-line installation and monthly costs, and that the facilities will be returned to Rec and Parks in the event that LAPD vacates the premises,' Haldis Toppel said.