Boeckmann Still Sees Human Relations as Vital to Police Training

Herbert F. Boeckmann II, the millionaire San Fernando Valley car dealer and the area’s top political contributor, served on the Los Angeles Police Commission for six years in the late 1980s. Last month new Mayor Richard Riordan reappointed him to the board. In his office overlooking the showroom of his Ford dealership, Boeckmann spoke to Times staff writer Michael Connelly about his plans for returning to the high-profile post.

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Question: What are your priorities as a police commissioner?

Answer: My first priority is to do the best possible job I am capable of doing. Specific priorities change from time to time, but some areas I have a particular interest in include providing the best possible police protection and doing so in a manner that is fair and equal for all members of the public, making the best and most efficient use of our resources; improved human relations training and interaction with the public; implementation of the Christopher Commission recommendations; an extremely active program of community-based policing; and providing appropriate support for the men and women of the department.

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Q. Is there anything left undone during your prior service that you want to get back to?

A. I think the one issue that I felt at that time was most important to get to was the area of human relations. Even though we did some training in those areas, I felt it wasn’t sufficient. We weren’t seeing the interaction we needed to have between the officers and the community. I don’t prioritize that above safety, but I think it is one of the things that leads to making our city more safer.

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Q. Why did human relations take your interest and what would you like to see done now?

A. I can give you an incident. I’d gone out on a shooting when I was on the commission previously. As we rolled into the area to look for those involved, two men walked off a dark porch, and they were stopped and questioned by the police in a put-your-hands-over-your-head manner. On confirming that they did belong in the neighborhood, the officers dismissed them.

My own feeling was, why didn’t we take a couple seconds and let them know why we stopped them? Because my own feeling was that when they walked away, they felt they were being harassed. Realistically, the police were doing the job they should have been doing but didn’t communicate that to them.

I think that is the kind of human relations needed: It is understanding that what we have in our minds might not be what’s in their minds. How do we communicate so the two of us can get along comfortably and have trust and reliance on each other?

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Q. Is there a specific Valley-oriented issue or problem you want to address?

A. I was appointed police commissioner for the entire city, and I fully intend to work on behalf of the people throughout Los Angeles. To me the basic issue is restoring peace and safety to our neighborhoods, our streets and our schools. Whether it be preventing violent crime, deterring graffiti, improving patrol presence or any one of the myriad issues that impact our quality of life, we need to address the problems in our communities so the public can feel safe living and doing business in the city of Los Angeles.

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Q. As a commissioner, what can you do to raise morale among the rank and file officers?

A. I agree we need to raise morale. There are many factors that contribute to morale. Of course, the commission can not be a factor of influence on all of them. But the commission can create an environment in which officers have the comfort of knowing they will be treated fairly if they do their job in a fair and proper manner.

The commission can advocate for resources to help the officers and civilian employees do their job best, whether it be compensation, training, tools or other support. The commission can help morale by looking at all sides of an issue and not presupposing that one side or group has all the right answers. Finally, the commission can and should support and commend the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department whenever appropriate.

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Q. The other side of that coin is restoring the public’s confidence in the Police Department after two years of turmoil. What can the commission do about that?

A. Certainly we do have a problem with public confidence, but I am not convinced that the public has lost all confidence in the department. The major lack of confidence I see is in the ability of law enforcement to ensure public safety in our neighborhoods, streets and schools. But law enforcement can’t do this alone. We need to support Mayor Riordan’s efforts to increase the size of the department. We need to become active in community-based policing efforts. Public confidence will rise as we do these things, among others. We’ll see the results.

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Q. Can the LAPD expect to meet Mayor Riordan’s goal of adding 3,000 officers in four years?

A. Well, I think the mayor’s priority is a correct one because it is fundamental to the quality of life in the city of Los Angeles. I haven’t examined yet how we are going to add 3,000 officers, but I am confident that the mayor and those appointed to serve under him will do everything in their power to improve public safety by a variety of means. This includes properly trained and equipped personnel, applying our officers in the most effective manner, which would include civilianizing additional jobs, expanding community-based policing and any other creative idea that we are able to come up with.

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Q. How involved can the commission be in coming up with those creative ideas?

A. There are areas that we can help with. We are not in a position to raise the dollars. We are not in a position to determine what dollars go to the Police Department--that’s truly with the mayor and council. But I think we can see that the dollars are handled as efficiently and as intelligently as possible in areas where we do have some control.

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Q. There has been some concern raised by observers of Mayor Riordan over his dedication to police reform. Where do you stand on the reforms called for by the Christopher Commission?

A. I don’t think the concerns are well-founded. The mayor appointed a diverse Police Commission of people who are committed to serving and providing the best possible police service. Please remember that the Police Commission cannot effectively implement many of the Christopher Commission recommendations without additional resources. The citizens of Los Angeles and the city’s elected officials must support us in implementing the recommendations where appropriate.

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Q. Have you read the Christopher Commission report?

A. I looked at it initially--if I remember correctly it was 130 recommendations. I have not had an opportunity to review them yet. In fact, I just got a copy so that I could look.

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Q. For two years the police in the Valley have been engaged in an ambitious community-policing project. Have you been aware of it and do you favor this philosophy of police work?

A. First of all, I am extremely aware of it because I am involved in it. I head each year the Graffiti Removal Day we have. The concept of community-based policing is much more than two years old within the department. The increased emphasis has already shown short-term results. That’s where I see the plus. And I am convinced long-term results will be enormous.

Law enforcement must be a part of the community it serves, and the community must feel they are empowered to assist and be part of the law enforcement effort. Community-based policing must be a high priority within our city.

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Q. Your appointment has been both praised and criticized. You’ve been described as both fair-minded and a “retread from the Gates era.” How would you characterize yourself?

A. I think I’d characterize myself as a person who tries to look at all sides of an issue and then forms as fair a conclusion as he humanly can. I do bring some business knowledge to the commission and have high regard and respect for all the people. I am a person who will not let expediency or other improper factors stand in the way of doing things right.

When I look at the time I spent on the commission before, I had the support of the chief of police, the mayor and the community. I think I was held in high regard by the officers and the other commissioners. I tried to the best of my ability to understand what we were trying to accomplish.