Parks Plan for LAPD

I am a Neighborhood Watch member, self-employed, a wife and a mother. I make my own decisions, form my own opinions, and no, Chief [Bernard] Parks, I am not a cop groupie.

The decision to remove senior lead officers from their position as community liaison has greatly upset our community. We have worked hard to form a bond with our senior leads, those dedicated officers who know their [respective] areas, the residents and the needs of those residents, and respond to them quickly and efficiently. Together we have addressed repressible crimes, scams of the elderly, graffiti, nuisance crimes, drug dealers, gang members, the list goes on. This is a partnership that works.

One sergeant will take the place of two senior leads. Will those sergeants be involved and available to the community, or will they simply be additional supervisors who delegate duties? There aren’t enough sergeants to go around, so are we to expect promotions from the ranks?

When a friend and I attempted to ask Chief Parks questions and invite him to a meeting to experience the bond the community has with the senior leads, he was dismissive and condescending. He answered questions with questions and told us Neighborhood Watch is a program and programs have an end; his plan is continuing.

The only way Neighborhood Watch will end is if Parks ends it himself, and he’s well on his way to doing just that.

SANDRA MUNZ

North Hollywood