Bratton Plans to Reorganize His Top Brass

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton announced plans to shuffle a third of his top officers Wednesday in a major shakeup in the top brass at most of the city’s patrol divisions.

Bratton said the promotion or transfer of 37 command and captain rank officers is the first phase of an overall plan to reorganize the department. Some promotions will require approval of Mayor James K. Hahn, the Los Angeles City Council or both. Transfers can be ordered at the chief’s discretion.

“I want a sense of urgency,” Bratton said. He criticized what he described as a “we’ll get to it when we get to it” attitude among managers.

“After six months in, I want more than I am seeing,” Bratton said.

At a news conference, Bratton noted that homicide has dropped 25% over the last year. He said that the shuffle should do more to decrease crime and that he hopes to have completed all changes by the beginning of May, when the city’s homicide rate traditionally ticks up.

Bratton said he would promote a dozen to the rank of captain or above while transferring another 25 top-level LAPD managers to new assignments.

Those plans include placing commanders above captains at some of the city’s busiest patrol divisions: Central, 77th Street, Wilshire and Devonshire.

Bratton, who changed out 75% of the command staff in his first year as New York City police commissioner, said there would not be demotions.

But department officials said that certain top-level managers would effectively be downgraded because of reduced responsibilities.

Those being promoted reflect “new energy, new perspective and insight,” Bratton said.

Bratton also said he wanted managers to see and be seen. The chief said it was his goal to field a more diverse command staff, increasing the number of women and minorities in upper management. Those changes, however, will be more evident in a second phase of promotions, he said.

Of the first 12 to be promoted, three are Latinos, one is Asian American and one is a woman.