Bratton finishes LAPD shuffle
Police Chief William J. Bratton announced one of the largest reorganizations of his command staff on Thursday, promoting and reassigning 23 officers, many to fill vacancies caused by an increase in retirements.
Four of the promotions complete changes begun after the shake-up in Central Bureau in the aftermath of the May 1 melee in MacArthur Park. But the vast majority reflect Bratton’s ability to reshuffle people because the deadline for a deferred-retirement program has caused many top command officers to leave.
With the changes announced Thursday, Bratton said he now has had a hand in the promotion of every one of the 94 members of his command staff, putting in place what he called his “World Series team” nearly five years after he became chief.
“It is an outstanding group of men and women, and it reflects the 21st century Los Angeles Police Department in that it is truly a diverse group,” Bratton said.
Most of the promotions and reassignments take effect July 1.
Shortly after the videotaped incident in MacArthur Park in which officers used batons and foam rubber bullets to break up an immigrants rights rally, Bratton reassigned Deputy Chief Cayler Carter and Cmdr. Louis Gray, the commanding officer and his top assistant in Central Bureau. They were the highest- ranking officers at the rally.
Two weeks ago, Bratton filled Carter’s former job by promoting Cmdr. Sergio Diaz to deputy chief.
Among the changes announced Thursday, Bratton promoted Capt. Andy Smith to commander and assigned him to Gray’s former job as commanding officer of operations, Central Bureau.
The chief appointed Capt. Joan Wakefield to fill Smith’s old job as commanding officer of Central Area.
A day after he assigned Deputy Chief Michael Hillman to head a new Critical Incident Management Bureau to prevent a recurrence of what happened in MacArthur Park, Bratton filled Hillman’s old position as commanding officer of operations for West Bureau.
Citing recruitment successes, he announced the promotion of Cmdr. Kenneth Garner, who leads that effort, to deputy chief to fill Hillman’s former position.
With Garner moving up, Bratton promoted Capt. James Cansler to commander and assigned him as commanding officer of the Personnel Group.
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