LAPD Effort in South-Central L.A. Wins Praise

Community leaders in South-Central Los Angeles on Monday praised a pilot program of community-based policing in the area as a major help in restoring public confidence in the Los Angeles Police Department.

“This is a significant step toward fighting crime and working to improve relations between the police and the community,” City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said at the initial meeting of the 80-member 77th (Street) Area Community-Based Policing Council.

The group, which met at a South-Central Los Angeles church near the scene of some of the worst rioting last spring, heard Police Chief Willie L. Williams and others express the hope that the program will open a new era in police-community relations.

“We’re going to stumble,” police Capt. Patrick Froehle said. “It will take us a while to get there. But with your help, we’re going to make things better.”

The council, whose 80 members were elected from about 300 prospective participants, consists of representatives from block clubs, civic organizations and business and youth groups.

Ridley-Thomas said its aim will be to provide a direct link between the community and the LAPD. “This isn’t about Officer Friendly,” he said. “It’s about accountability.”

The council brings to seven the number of community-based policing groups organized since the Christopher Commission last year recommended that the LAPD do more to build bridges with residents.

“The idea here is that with (the council) we will have an instrument to make our concerns heard,” said resident Lawrence Wardlaw, adding, “and that someone at the Police Department will be there to respond.”

Since becoming chief last June, Williams has expressed interest in joining the scattered community-based policing groups in various parts of the city in a coherent network.

Last month, the chief unveiled the first step in a citywide community policing plan that he said would be a “new beginning” for building public confidence in his department by creating citizen advisory councils, changing basic police attitudes and retraining key officers.

Last year, six police divisions began community policing projects. The City Council had ordered the start of a pilot project in response to the findings of the Christopher Commission.

Before that effort, a San Fernando Valley-wide community policing program was begun by Deputy Chief Mark A. Kroeker, commander of the area’s five divisions.

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