William Bratton: Lauded chief of troubled LAPD
The former chief of police of New York and Boston explains why policing in Los Angeles is different from anywhere else, and how he's working to change the LAPD culture.
from the July 6, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
That idea resonates, says Anthony Pacheco, one of five police commissioners. "Other chiefs talk about issues of staffing and promotion and diversity and equipment and resources, but Bratton is able to work with city leaders to get action on them."
Another key Bratton point: Policing does not exist in a vacuum. "He is [promoting] the message that crime goes way beyond policing – to education, poverty, homelessness, housing, hopelessness," says Mr. Pacheco.
Bratton takes that message to the rank and file. "He is not afraid to go to roll call and have the unpleasant discussions that are easier to ignore," says Pacheco. "He will challenge them up front in candid ways and at the highest to lowest level."
Some observers say Bratton's achievements may be overstated, given that falling crime rates in L.A. might be part of a similar reduction nationwide that is occurring for other reasons, such as an improved economy and a demographic shift that has meant that older teenagers and young adults make up a smaller share of the overall population. They note that Bratton has not been able to solve an increase in gang violence – one of the city's most entrenched crime problems.
"Bratton has done a good job, but his work is incomplete," says Najee Ali, a leading black activist. "The LAPD still has an ingrained culture of violence. When confronted in major situations, they overreact. But Bratton is succeeding where other chiefs have failed in focusing on eradicating that 'us versus them' mentality."
A turning point for LAPD
For his part, Bratton has been embracing new relationships with federal agencies – the CIA; FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – to confront gangs, and winning local approval.
And 16 years and four police chiefs after the Rodney King incident, the LAPD has reached the "tipping point," he says. The city council is finally giving him more officers – 320 on the way, 1,000 to 2,000 more in coming years – and the community, including long-disgruntled black neighborhoods, better understands the police role and its limitations.
"Because of all this progress, I push back on the idea that nothing has changed here," he says, returning to his original question, while strapping on a Glock 9-mm handgun in holster and meeting the driver who will take him to his next public speech. "We are going in the right direction, and that's why I wanted to stay and finish the job."
RSS feed
