PLAN/LA

LAPD's Senior Lead Officer Program is Back

Mar 16, 2001

from Daily Breeze 14Mar01

Chief calls it a ?‘step forward'

by Loren Keller

Bowing to pressure from community groups and some city leaders, Police Chief Bernard Parks announced Tuesday that he is reinstating the LAPD's community liaison officer program - with some modifications.

The chief scrapped the popular "senior lead officer" program nearly three years ago, saying the 168 offices were needed on street patrol - and that all officers should be involved in community policing efforts.

Flanked by Mayor Richard Riordan at the Pacific Community Police Station, the chief said those officers should return to working closely with neighborhood groups, homeowner associations and business leaders to address graffiti, drug dealing and such problems.

"We believe this is a step forward," Parks said. "We've been moving forward in the sense of trying to move this department to where every officer has a role in community-based policing."

The reinstated SLO program, fashioned with the input of the union representing some 9,100 rank-and-file police officers, will be somewhat different than its predecessor.

SLOs will now be required to attend roll calls, work field duty one day a week or as needed, and train less-tenured officers, in addition to meeting with community groups.

Riordan said the return of the SLO program is part of his recent push to improve officer morale, beef up the LAPD's recruitment efforts and restore community policing before the end of his term June 30.

"Community police officers are the bedrock that unite our neighborhoods," Riordan said.

Councilman Joel Wachs, a mayoral candidate who pressed for the program's return, also joined Parks for the announcement.

Though Wachs has said he wouldn't rehire the police chief if elected mayor, he applauded Tuesday's decision.

"The people of this city are going to reap the benefits and rewards of this partnership for many years to come," he said.

But not all his colleagues agree.

Councilmen Mark Ridley-Thomas and Nate Holden, who represent high-crime areas in South Los Angeles, are among those who believe the officers should be on the street, given the LAPD's shortage of officers and lagging recruitment efforts.

But the reinstatement of the SLO program drew cautious praise from a North Hollywood community group called Save Our Senior Leads.

"The community will monitor this reinstatement to ensure its success," said Page Miller. "We will look forward to the next chief and the next mayor further supporting community policing and having our senior leads five days a week."

Police Commission Vice President Dean Hansell, whose board approved the program's reinstatement last fall, welcomed the announcement.

We heard more public comment about the SLO program than we have about any other police issue," he said.