Crime Stats, Community Concerns Discussed at Police Commission Meeting
LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck (center) speaks at the Los Angeles Police Commission meeting at Peck Park on April 1. (Photo: Megan Barnes)
Dozens of residents turned out for a rare San Pedro meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday night.
Chief of Police Charlie Beck, Councilman Joe Buscaino and newly appointed LAPD Harbor Division Capt. Gerald Woodyard were among speakers who addressed the crowded Peck Park auditorium, where numerous police officers and cadets were also present.
The five-member commission, which oversees the police department, holds special periodic meetings in different parts of the city to give residents an opportunity to bring their concerns before the board.
Commission President Steve Soboroff outlined the board’s goals for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, including increasing hiring to help the department reach 10,000 police officers, reducing hit and runs, and its recently implemented on-body camera program for police officers.
“Its great that we have this opportunity as residents to see how our police department is run,” Buscaino said at the start of the meeting, highlighting the fact that the Harbor Area ranked number one in crime reduction last year. “As long as I’m here, you have my commitment to ensure that we don’t lose funding within the LAPD. A core function of our city services is overall public safety.”
Capt. Woodyard introduced himself and outlined crime stats thus far for the year in the Harbor Area.
“Last year, we were number one in crime reduction, and currently we’re number two, sitting at about 18.5 percent reduction,” he said. “I’ll say this unapologetically, it’s because of the community, the officers, the youth program that we have engaged in this community, and it’s because we’re working as partners, and we’re going to continue doing that.”
Compared to last year, robberies in the Harbor Area have gone down 7 percent, burglaries are down 22 percent, stolen vehicles are down 25 percent and 47 fewer cars have been broken into.
Woodyard also had Community Police Advisory Board Co-Chair Mona Sutton and Teen Community Police Advisory Board Co-Chair Ernesto Hernandez each address the commission.
Chief Beck, who patrolled San Pedro, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Wilmington for several hours before the meeting, gave a report summarizing citywide crime stats for the first quarter of the year.
“San Pedro is the biggest small town in the world. It’s a place I know very well, but like anything else, you always need a fresh look. You always need to hear from the folks that live here, to talk about real problems,” he said. “Just in my short span here, I see considerable changes. Things look good.”
Beck reported a 22 percent reduction in homicide across the city, noting that last year saw the lowest rate since the early 1960s. There’s been a slight increase in rapes, a 13 percent reduction in shootings and an 11 percent reduction in property crime. Traffic collisions are about even, but there’s been a 9 percent reduction in hit and runs and a 14 percent reduction in DUIs, he said.
Topics brought to the board by residents included illegal street racing, downhill skateboarding in San Pedro and Harbor Division’s unused jail, which was closed several years ago due to budget cuts. Officers must take suspects arrested locally all the way to Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles for booking.
While the commission was unable to respond directly during public comment, Beck said members of law enforcement will get back to residents individually to answer their questions.
