LAPD’s Gascon in Lead for Arizona Job

Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief George Gascon, a key architect of the strategy that has driven crime down for three years, said Monday he would leave the LAPD to head the Mesa Police Department if that Arizona city’s council confirms his appointment next month.

Gascon, who as head of the LAPD’s Office of Operations helped Police Chief William J. Bratton develop a scientific crime-fighting strategy, was recommended for the new job by the Mesa city manager on Monday, and the council is scheduled to vote on the recommendation July 12.

“It will be a challenge,” Gascon said. “It’s been great working here running operations. I’ve had a great boss. But I think I’m ready to run a place of my own.”

Gascon’s likely departure, and the loss of other LAPD managers in the next year to retirement, poses a challenge for Bratton to reassemble a management team that will allow him to meet the goal he set for reducing crime an additional 8% this year.

“I believe that is a very achievable goal,” Gascon said.

Bratton has credited Gascon, 52, with playing a leading role in developing policing strategies, such as focusing on repeat criminals and the locations where crime occurs most. Gascon often directs the department’s Compstat sessions in which officers use computer tracking of crime trends to evaluate how each police division is performing.

“George is nationally recognized as one of the top professionals in his field, and his experience will be a great asset to Mesa,” said Mesa City Manager Christopher Brady.

“It’s a tremendous loss,” said Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss, chairman of the council’s Public Safety Committee.

However, the councilman voiced confidence in Bratton’s ability to identify lower-level managers and pull them up to his command team, just as he did with Gascon.

“What Bratton has done is identified a new, younger generation of department leaders,” the councilman said.

Gascon was head of support services and human relations in 2003 when Bratton named him one of his three assistant chiefs.

Bratton said he was “very happy” for Gascon.

“He’s been a prime mover in LAPD. Much of our crime reduction can be attributed to his leadership and focus on top-10 percenters,” Bratton said, referring to the department’s strategic focus on the 10 percent of criminals who are statistically responsible for 50 percent of the crime.

The chief has not announced Gascon’s replacement, according to Lt. Paul Vernon.

Gascon said he would like to head the LAPD some day, but Bratton has indicated he plans to ask next year for another five-year term as chief.

Gascon served as a police reservist for six years and 22 years as an officer.