The Fight Against Crime: Notes From The Front

Los Angeles Police Lt. Tony Alba has gone from catching criminals to catching flak.

As the LAPD’s new press spokesman, Alba fields calls from dozens of reporters, who regularly contact him at the LAPD’s press relations office at Parker Center for updates on breaking news stories, information on police policies and procedures and the latest crime statistics.

Alba, who previously worked as a watch commander at the West Valley Division, beat out 10 other candidates for the high-profile position earlier this month.

“I’m very devoted to this deparment and I have a strong connection to it,” said Alba, a 27-year veteran of the LAPD. “I wanted to pay it back in some way, so I decided one way would be by representing the department in the best way I can.”

Alba’s job entails, among other things, going to the scene of high-profile crimes--celebrity murders, police shootings and the like--and obtaining the latest information from investigating officers, using it to answer reporters’ questions.

It is a symbiotic relationship: Alba greases the flow of information to the public, while sparing detectives the demands of dealing with a throng of reporters.

Alba says he plans to take advantage of his new position to enhance the Police Department’s public image and credibility, severely tarnished in the O.J. Simpson trial.

“I’m really truly dedicated to bringing out the positive and good things that are here in the Police Department,” Alba said. “But I also know I have to be honest and let the media know there is not a ‘code of silence’ or hidden agenda.

“I’d rather break the bad news [about the LAPD] than have it come from other sources, but in addition, I will tell you what I’m doing about it.”

Alba has even given reporters his pager number to make himself more accessible.

It’s a demanding position that represents a big change for Alba, who previously spent 20 years as a detective investigating abused children, gang homicides, burglaries, auto thefts and drug deals.

He has gone from being a behind-the-scenes detective to the LAPD’s front man, who frequently finds himself in front of television news cameras.

Most recently he worked with a French film crew taping “Planet Cops,” a television show that features law enforcement agencies from different countries.

It’s also an unpredictable job because only the criminals know when a crime is going to occur. Alba said he discussed the job’s problems, the demanding hours and loss of privacy at length with his wife before he decided to apply for it.

He said his predecessor, Lt. John Dunkin, who left to head the South Bureau homicide unit, helped him through the transition by introducing him to key members of Los Angeles’ journalistic establishment. Dunkin also gave Alba a bit of advice.

“He told me that like anything in police work, there are good days and bad days,” Alba said. “He said to enjoy the good days because there will be plenty of bad times to go along with it.”

Alba acknowledges that “the most difficult challenge I have ahead of me is to create a trust and partnership between the media and the officers of the Los Angeles Police Department.

“We want to make ourselves approachable to everyone and we don’t want any stereotypes to prevent people from trusting us or letting them know we are there for them.”