JUST THE FACTS-Here’s some more local news headlines we should be concerned about in Los Angeles:
●Sunday October 4, 2015 … Channel 7 Breaking News at 11:00 pm ... “Deadly Shooting in North Hollywood at Bellaire and Saticoy. One Dead…”
●Shooting in the West San Fernando Valley community of West Hills on the 22900 block of Vanowen Street. The Victim is Joel Ravin, brother of Dodger relief pitcher player Josh Ravin. He was shot 5 times and survived the shooting. No suspect(s) apprehended at this time…
●Shooting at the intersection of Sepulveda and Victory Blvds by LAPD Officers on Patrol…
●7200 Block of Eaton Ave in the “All American City” of Canoga Park … “Man shot and killed while sitting in his car on Eaton Ave near Sherman Way. No additional details at this time…”
These are just a few of the stories we see reported more and more in the San Fernando Valley.
Shootings and killings don’t just occur in South Los Angeles, but in the entire San Fernando Valley and other neighborhoods of this sprawling City. Many LA communities are experiencing a rise in violent and property crime rates. Pundits talk about measure 109, Proposition 47 or any number of reasons. The cause of this can be debated for hours.
But the problem is that crime is happening and the number of victims is growing. And what is the LAPD doing about this deadly crime trend in the San Fernando Valley and other regions of our city? They are deploying more and more officers, command staff personnel and other resources from the San Fernando Valley to South Los Angeles.
The San Fernando Valley and other portions of Los Angeles pay heavy taxes but are not receiving the city services they pay for. I recently mentioned this situation to a Valley councilman and he expressed concern. Unfortunately, his concern has not brought about any change in the re-deployment of LAPD personnel from Valley police divisions to those outside the San Fernando Valley.
When you hear that the LAPD is increasing the Elite Metropolitan Division by hundreds of officers, you need to know that those officers are coming from your local police stations. All the San Fernando Valley LAPD Divisions have been hit hard by the re-deployment of personnel to Metro and ultimately to South Los Angeles. In my conversations with LAPD command staff assigned to the San Fernando Valley, I have learned that this re-deployment trend is occurring at an alarming rate.
Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th Street Division, bordered by Southeast and Southwest Divisions, has seen a large increase in police deployment. Major gangs live in those parts of the city and terrorize its residents; this has been an “on and off” trend for many years.
But here’s a simple question:Should the residents and business owners of the San Fernando Valley and other regions of Los Angeles continue to have their police resources re-deployed out of their communities for extended periods of time? It is getting more and more difficult to recruit qualified people to join the LAPD given all the anti-police activity and killing of officers taking place in our country. Recruitment here in LA is at an all-time low.
President Obama and other elected officials are failing to address the hostility of the many groups that are protesting against the police in America. There is a growing lack of respect and admiration for the men and women who make the commitment to “Protect and Serve” their communities as police officers.
The lack of interest in a law enforcement career is not only happening in Los Angeles: it’s a national problem. As officers retire and fewer chose to become police officers, the ability of our governments to “Protect and Serve” our communities diminishes.
Increased efforts to restrict gun sales to responsible people in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as other liberal regions of the country, does not help the situation. Here in LA, most city leaders have an anti-gun mentality. This does not help all the honest people of sound mind who want to protect their families and businesses with a gun. Remember, recent shootings of innocent people have been carried out by mentally ill individuals. It’s a serious problem that needs attention before tragedy occurs and not after.
I urge you to visit your local LAPD Police Station and meet with your Senior Lead Officer. Ask him or her about your community and the level of policing. Better yet, get involved in one of the programs in your neighborhood…your Neighborhood Council, the local Chamber of Commerce or any other good cause. It will be time well spent.
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Domestic Violence--It is interesting that our grand-standing LA City Controller Ron Galperin has just completed an audit of the city’s Domestic Violence programs. This audit, released on the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, found that the City’s programs are not well funded and that the Domestic Abuse Response Teams (D.A.R.T.) are only deployed in 10 of the 21 LAPD Divisions.
We all know that domestic violence happens throughout the city and not in just certain parts of Los Angeles. Mayor Eric Garcetti now promises to deploy the teams into all 21 divisions by the end of the year. Since it is now October, we should see the additional teams in place shortly. My question is, where are the officers coming from that will team with the civilians assigned to the new D.A.R.T. programs? We don’t even have enough officers in the field at this time to handle the routine radio calls. Is this just another “feel good idea” by our Mayor or is there substance to this program?
Speaking of Controller Galperin, he was the only Los Angeles City official originally scheduled to address “Safe Passages,” a long established group helping domestic violence victims. The event was at the downtown J.W. Marriott Hotel on October 1. The Controller failed to show at the event and instead attended the Armand Arabian Awards Luncheon in the Valley. I guess his interest in addressing domestic violence only goes so far.
(Dennis P. Zine is a 33 year member of the Los Angeles Police Department and former Vice-Chairman of the Elected Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission, 12 year member of the Los Angeles City Council and current LAPD Reserve Officer. He writes Just the Facts for CityWatch. You can contact him at [email protected]) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 76
Pub: Sep 18, 2015
