Give the Panel Some Punch

The Los Angeles City Charter clearly puts the civilian Board of Police Commissioners in charge of the Police Department. But the five commissioners need help to do an aggressive, complete and timely job of setting policy and providing oversight.

City voters are likely to be asked in June to approve charter amendments that would strengthen the Police Commission and make the Police Department more accountable. This small staffing addition is something that can be done now, and should be.

A grand total of five employees constitutes the commission’s current staff. The board employs no independent investigators and must get most of its information from the very department it is charged with supervising.

Who’s kidding whom? Certainly the Christopher Commission wasn’t fooled. Its report flatly concluded that the Police Commission is severely handicapped by such a small staff--now often preoccupied with such fun chores as the granting of permits.

The City Council is expected to vote today on a proposal to add six employees to the commission staff despite a municipal hiring freeze and overall budget constraints. The City Administrative Office believes the estimated $250,000 cost for this year could be paid, at least in part, with savings from the police budget.

Police commissioners need that additional support in order to concentrate on the most pressing issues facing the Los Angeles Police Department, which include the implementation of community policing and the hiring of a new chief.