Merchant Gives Police a Precious Foothold

Minutes after police were alerted to a bomb threat at downtown’s Grand Central Market, LAPD Sgt. Rick Sanchez rounded up a group of colleagues and set up a command post a few blocks away. There, in the back office of Charles Diamond Co., Sanchez had a quiet space with a phone to deal with the crisis.

That scare, about five months ago, turned out to be a false alarm, but Cindy Caine’s office space allowed police to do their work quickly and from close range.

Over the last several years, Caine has established a unique relationship, offering officers an informal work site and, in turn, receiving security and business.

It can be a delicate balance--making sure all merchants receive equal treatment--but Sanchez said the division officers strive for that.

“It’s important that we treat every merchant in that area fairly, and we definitely do that,” Sanchez said. “Cindy just provides us with a central location.”

Senior Lead Officer Randal McCain is one of Caine’s most frequent visitors.

“I consider it an officers’ retreat, where we can go to relax, unwind, write reports and discuss things in a relaxed atmosphere,” he said. “It helps us stay out there in the community.”

It’s no wonder they feel comfortable--her back room has many of the trappings of the station. McCain’s nameplate is on the door; Caine displays 67 framed pictures of officers on the shelf behind the jewelry counter; she cleans the back office, which boasts an LAPD desktop phone directory, blank arrest reports, a table and three chairs; and she replenishes bulk packages of crackers and candy on a monthly basis, for which officers contribute money.

“As often as we can, we go back there and write reports, talk about tactical issues,” said Officer Robert Palacios, 32, who stops by once or twice a day. “We want to stay as close as possible to the community.

“If there’s been a situation, I might say, ‘Let’s just meet at Cindy’s.’ There we can get some water and it’s a safe atmosphere.”

Throughout the day, patrol cars and bikes line the sidewalk outside Caine’s storefront on Broadway.

All this began about two years ago, when the LAPD started reassessing its existing substations and community outreach centers. In many instances, the benefits were less than the costs of staffing the stations.

Many were closed, including two in Central Division. One substation and three drop-in centers remain open in the division.

That’s when Caine stepped into the breach.

Caine’s office is “definitely filling a gap,” said Officer Kristi Furr, who visited the location daily when she worked the foot patrol beat on Broadway.

For her efforts, Caine gets a sense of security. In the business’ 60-year history, there have only been two robberies, both minor, she said. She attributes that record to the fact that she and her family have always kept in close contact with officers. Caine also benefits from a steady stream of customers--about 70% of her clientele is officers.

Their styles pair well, Caine said, her wide smile matching her flamboyant leopard skin cowboy hat and jacket.

“I like their loyalty and class and discipline and honor.”

She caters to their needs, selling tributary pins for fallen officers, miniature LAPD badge tie pins and cuff links, and earrings and pendants in the shape of handcuffs.

She also stays open until 7 p.m., a few hours later than she would like, to accommodate some officers’ later shifts.

The interaction has resulted in many officers patronizing the store.

“If any partners are getting engaged, I always steer them toward Cindy,” Palacios said. “It’s good quality.”

Caine’s family has been on friendly terms with police, she said, since her grandfather befriended a lieutenant at the division, whom he met at the Biltmore Hotel sauna. They kept a business relationship because pawnshop detail officers would inquire about jewelry the family purchased to sell at the store. Caine established the office for the police when she bought the business two years ago.

“Most people don’t know about cops,” said Caine, 46. “They deserve to be treated so much better.”

Many neighboring businesses said they are pleased with the result of Caine’s efforts.

“The concept is to get police where the people are, and she facilitates that process,” said Robert Clinton, vice president of Clifton Cafeterias, one of Caine’s neighbors.

“They have an obligation to police the community equally. . . . If they don’t go to the bathroom there, where are they going to go?”

Edna Deya, a saleswoman at the neighboring L.A. Wear, said: “The fact that they’re close by helps. It’s better for everyone.”

In effect, Caine has put an interesting twist on community policing.

“If she could have the room to book and jail people, she would,” Sanchez said. “She just wants to keep police in the area.”