Sherman Oaks : Homeowners Group, Police Form Panel

The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., working with the Van Nuys Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, has started the division’s first joint community-police committee.

The association’s Community Policing Committee is the first of many that LAPD Capt. Richard Wemmer, commanding officer of the division, hopes to launch in his area. The purpose of the committees would be to provide a communications channel between many community organizations and the Van Nuys Division.

The committees’ activities may include letting police know about gang activity and other problems, which could help police make decisions on where to deploy bike or foot patrols. The committees could also provide a forum where police could inform residents about crime patterns in their community, as well as educate them on crime prevention, said Jack Fox, chairman of the Sherman Oaks committee.

Wemmer said he does not believe the committees will duplicate the efforts of the area’s existing Neighborhood Watch programs.

“It’s just another vehicle that people can use to work with the department and work to make their communities safer,” Wemmer said.

The committee was scheduled to hold its first meeting Monday night. The idea was developed by Wemmer, who presented the concept at a Dec. 4 meeting between homeowner activists and police officials.