Inglewood : Chief to Take Airport Post

Saying it was an offer he could not refuse, Police Chief Joseph Rouzan announced the end of 30 years of police work to accept a security consulting position with Los Angeles International Airport’s police bureau.

“I would only leave this great city for an opportunity as challenging and exciting as the one offered me by the Board of Airport Commissioners,” Rouzan said.

As consultant to Department of Airports General Manager Clifton Moore, Rouzan will be charged with revitalizing the airport police bureau, which has been troubled by allegations of mismanagement and racial bias. After a four-month investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, several employees were fired, one officer was charged with embezzling department funds, another was charged with auto theft, and bureau chief Frank Constigan resigned.

“We needed someone who could put the department back in shape,” Moore said. “Rouzan had managed multiracial staffs of similar size and he had an excellent reputation with the Los Angeles Police Department. We sought him out because we needed someone with his strength and expertise.”

The retiring police chief logged 21 years with the Los Angeles Police Department before leaving in 1976 to become police chief for the city of Compton. After 3 1/2 years there, Rouzan became police chief of Inglewood in 1981. Two years later he took on a second position as assistant city manager.

Rouzan’s double role as police chief and city manager was the major source of criticism against the chief. Police officers often complained to their union that Rouzan spent too much time in his City Hall office.

City officials, however, had nothing but praise for the retiring chief. “The crime rate has gone down by 10% every year he has been here,” said City Manager Paul Eckles. “I’d say that is a pretty good accomplishment.”

Said Mayor Ed Vincent, “I hate to see him leave. He took a department that had not been at full strength in years and brought it up to strength and kept it there.”