City’s Juvenile Officer of the Year Finds Career Has Been Reward in Itself

Each time Tony Foti looked out the window of the Reseda supermarket where he worked 25 years ago, he would see a Los Angeles police car in the parking lot.

“Those guys make a difference,” he remembers thinking.

One morning he finally asked the officers how to join the department. A few months later, he began his career.

Since then, Foti has indeed made a difference.

Last week, as head of the juvenile unit at the LAPD’s Devonshire Division, Foti was named LAPD juvenile officer of the year at the annual luncheon hosted by the Southern California Juvenile Officers’ Assn.

It was especially meaningful getting the award from Chief Bernard Parks because the chief, Foti said, considers juvenile crime prevention a top priority. “He looked so proud,” Foti said of Parks.

“It actually says the work I have done in leading the outstanding group of detectives I work with has made a difference in the survival of our youth.”

The juvenile officers’ association is composed of officers from law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California and is particularly interested in prevention of juvenile crime, said LAPD Det. Ben Gonzalez, an association board member.

Foti “did an outstanding job . . . he showed great leadership in the Devonshire area,” Gonzalez said.

Foti, 46, was born in New York state but moved to Los Angeles at age 5.

For several years now, Foti, a car enthusiast who is restoring a 1969 Camaro in his garage, has also represented the LAPD with two racing cars in races throughout the world.

Although the policing award was given to Foti personally, he gives much of the credit to his 11-detective crew, which is credited with a 168% increase in detective-initiated arrests compared with last year. Youth offenses in the Devonshire area range from school truancy to violent crime.

One memorable arrest, Foti says, was of a Kennedy High School student who stole every jersey from the school’s football team.

But Foti, who views crime prevention and helping families avoid the legal system as high priorities, was also recognized for a well-rounded effort, including an array of volunteer and prevention programs.

“These kids need to be helped,” he said. “No 11-year-old needs to be going to jail.”

A judge often orders counseling as part of the sentences given youthful offenders. But Foti often finds counselors in private and public programs for youngsters who commit less-serious offenses--even before the youths face a judge.

In many cases, parents who lack the skills to control their children are referred to parenting classes. Parents “know the kids are their responsibility until they turn 18, but kids today are very defiant . . . The kids are out of control,” he said.

Foti is married to Bernadette Foti, a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney. They live in Simi Valley with their children, Adam, 9, Ryan, 8, and Nesi, 7.

Meanwhile, seeing by day the difficult lives some children have at home has given him an extra incentive to be a good father at night, he says.

“I see what other kids are lacking,” Foti said. “I don’t want my kids to miss that at home.”