A Case of Enlightened Philanthropy : Donations of Cash, Equipment to the LAPD May Help Make the Valley a Safer Place

It was hardly reassuring to hear about the many equipment-related woes of the Los Angeles Police Department. There were aging patrol cars that stalled frequently, even in parades. There were handcuffs that would not work properly.

Most notably, perhaps, there was the story of an attempt by the LAPD to keep track of the many thousands of convicted sexual offenders who live here. This came during the height of the fears generated by a serial child molester in the San Fernando Valley last year. Well, the police effort stalled because they had neither the computer equipment nor the money to do it.

It is heartening to note that many businesses and individuals have been paying attention. And charitable donations to the needy LAPD so far this year have already surpassed the total for all of 1993.

Folks in the West Valley are to be commended for being particularly generous. Police stationed there have received thousands of dollars worth of computers, bicycles and even automobiles and high-tech cameras used to produce extra-sharp photographs of evidence. The largess here includes 13 computers from Great Western Bank that are being used to help officers write crime reports.

We have a hint for those who are still interested in donating computer-related materials. The police badly need networking hardware and software, so that these computers can be used to transmit data back and forth. For the most part, the computers are still being used for basic word processing.

West Valley Sgt. Walt Kainz credits City Council member Laura Chick for inspiring the new generosity. She set the tone by turning over $80,000 from her office budget to the West Valley Division and three of the seven city cars assigned to her staff.

Much more is needed, however, and those interested in helping out can do so by calling the following numbers for nonprofit police support organizations. Donations made through such groups are tax-deductible. You can call 756-8406 or 342-5725 for donations to police in the West Valley; 756-8308 for Van Nuys; 756-8838 for North Hollywood; 756-8866 for Foothill, and 756-8270 for Devonshire.

Money donated to the West Valley police was used to buy $1,500 in sophisticated cameras for use in court and criminal investigations. That’s exactly the kind of help that the police need and that the city may be unable to provide.