Community Policing | Britta 4 Sheriff

Community Policing Initiative

From day one of my Administration, Community Policing will be the cornerstone of the Sheriff’s Department's new directive. In order to rebuild trust with the communities we serve we must begin by building and rebuilding relationships with the residents, community groups, clergy, businesses and schools we represent. This will be amongst our highest priorities.

Currently the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has lost its focus on community policing. Community policing helps all residents because it is a valuable crime reduction tool, its value and benefits have been overlooked by the Sheriff’s Department for far too long. We need to change the Department’s reputation and it starts by direct action. There must be improvements in how we want the residents of Los Angeles County to perceive our efforts of Community Policing. Under my command we will be known for Community Policing, Not Deputy Gangs.

As Sheriff, I will strengthen our community ties by realigning our value system and commitment to serve the community, focusing on modern community policing tactics to solve the modern problems of today while actively addressing crime and public safety concerns.

Plan of Action

Build New Community Patrol Stations

One of my priorities is to create new beginnings for the communities we serve. I will seek funding from the Board of Supervisors to demolish and rebuild Patrol Stations that hold negative views within the community. Many of these stations are antiquated and need a fresh start to show our commitment to change.

A sample of my vision is to utilize the entire patrol station grounds. These new patrol stations will be built environmentally and community friendly. These locations will have a community center, public amphitheater, athletic fields, exercise equipment, exercise tracks and house after school programs to unite the community and our station personnel.

Each station's unit commander will host a town hall meeting or open house to allow the community to meet with the Captain and staff to better communicate on community needs and partnerships.

I will change the Sheriff’s Department’s reputation of Deputy Gangs to a Community Based policing Sheriff’s Department.

Patrol Stations

Train all deputies on the importance and benefits of Community Policing.
Create new positions within each Patrol Station for Community Liaison Deputies whose full time job is to interact and represent the department at community functions and meetings.
Seek out problematic areas and host community clean up or repair days to help beautify the neighborhoods.
Require Captains assigned to patrol stations to interact and seek partnerships with the residents, business community, Nonprofits and the clergy in their patrol areas.

Deputies

Increase Deputies involvement to interact and make personal contacts with residents and business owners through foot and bike patrols, high visibility patrols attending public events and town hall meetings and local schools in their assigned area.
Deputy personnel participating in after school and athletic programs to help mentor the youth will earn pay incentives (subject to Board of Supervisors and Union approval).
Deputies attend junior and high school events ( football soccer games) to support student athletes and develop school partnerships.

Supervisors

Supervisors shall be approachable, accessible and respond to calls for service.
Supervisors shall lead, empowered to make decisions, mentor their personnel and be a role model for their staff.

Unit Commanders/Station Captains

Station captains must take ownership of their stations and become more involved in their station’s community.
Station captains will meet with community groups, business owners, community groups and residents to gain the public’s trust and direct insight. They will attend town hall meetings, public safety meetings, “Coffee with the captain” monthly meet & greet, athletic events, neighborhood watch etc.to keep the community apprised of current events and crime trends affecting their jurisdictions.
Station captains routinely conduct site visits of their: business districts, schools, residential neighborhoods, fire departments, utility companies to build relationships and keep current with the community’s needs.
Encourage and forge a partnership with volunteers who want to work with each station captain and volunteer to help to be part of the solution and provide job training, mentorship counseling
Station captains to work with business owners to create business watch districts in retail business corridors and manufacturing areas.
Captains to be involved with their station personnel and conduct monthly meetings with the supervisors staff.

Administration

A new position in my command staff will be created titled Chief of Community Relations. This person will oversee that this new component will be added into daily activities at each Patrol Station and oversee the effort Department wide.
The Chief of Community Relations will take over the existing Community Partnerships Bureau and expand its operations. This Bureau will add more staffing and expanded services to improve efforts department wide.
Deputies will be held to a community code of conduct that will be drafted by the Community Partnership Bureau Administrative staff and in conjunction with Community Leaders. The basic code of conduct will not violate the Department’s policy code, but shall make explicit community standards that the Deputies will adhere to and that the public can count on when interacting with Deputies.
Revitalize the Community Oriented Policing Service Program where business owners donate supplies to assist with community cleanup and beautification projects.
Consult with Community nonprofits to help raise money from the business community to put back into local youth programs.

Media

Create relationships with all media (print, TV, journalism & social media) for the release of all news stories.
Create a social media page for businesses to be informed on crime trends directly affecting businesses.
Update each Department’s bureau’s websites to be user friendly and highlight current events and news stories to better inform the community.
The Sheriff’s Information Bureau will improve media relations and become more transparent in communications with all media and conduct live interviews when appropriate. This Bureau will also create an L.A. Sheriff’s Most Wanted show and media advisory program to help take bad people off the street.

Conclusion

Community policing is a proactive problem solving technique. Working with residents, business and community organizations increases both resident and officer safety. Open lines of communication between the public and the Sheriff’s Department helps solve crime and works as a crime deterrent. This also empowers the community to be part of their own solution. Trust is the foundation of success in Community Policing and we will accomplish this effort through credibility, accountability, and transparency.