Jewish Group, Police Team Up Against Hate

The Anti-Defamation League on Wednesday announced a new partnership with law enforcement agencies to help deal with hate crimes and extremists.

The group’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of 13 law enforcement agencies, was established as a way for the Jewish anti-discrimination organization and police to keep each other informed about the crimes and patterns prevalent among hate groups.

“It’s important for officers to be knowledgeable,” Matt Pitcavage, the league’s national director for fact-finding, said during a press conference at the Los Angeles Police Academy. “They’re the front line in the battle against terrorism and extremism.”

LAPD Chief Bernard C. Parks said the sharing of information can help prevent tragedies.

“We’ve put a lot of energy since Sept. 11 looking at terrorists in other countries, but you can never forget the terrorists that are home-grown,” Parks said.

For much of its history, officials said, the Anti-Defamation League has worked with law enforcement to combat bias and hate crimes, but the creation of the committee formalizes this relationship and brings more agencies together. “In the past we would develop training programs for police officers and take it to law enforcement; now we’re asking them what they need,” said Nancy Volpert, the group’s associate director. Volpert said the committee’s creation has been in the works since midsummer, and the Sept. 11 attacks only reinforced the need for it. Other law enforcement groups involved are the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles school police, the Highway Patrol, the FBI, the state attorney general’s office and agencies from Bakersfield, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Riverside, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara. It will meet quarterly beginning in March.