Charlie Beck LAPD

Charlie Beck’s 1st Staff Meeting: It’s All About the Accessories

Charlie-Beck-swearing-in-2


So ….when you are a brand new chief of police how do you gain the respect
and professional devotion of your newly acquired troops?

What unmistakable signal can you give that will communicate to your officers that you have their best interests in mind?

One method is to give all the cops a gift-–something they really, really want.

Newly-sworn Chief of Police Charlie Beck had his first official staff meeting at the LAPD’s recently completed headquarters on Wednesday. Everyone from captain’s rank and above was asked to attend.

Most of the meeting reportedly fell into the realm of what was expected. Beck talked about how he respected all the other contenders for chief, how crime and community patrol are his priorities and how he is going to push resources away from centralization and out to the divisions. His vision is to “make what Bratton started our destiny.” In other words, he will keep crime down, keep the counter terrorism bureau healthy, and will further transform the LAPD culture from the roots up while honoring what was started with the federal consent decree.

He will also be doing some reorganization in January, he said, and asked for input from those in the room.

And then he gave everyone a gift.

He told the officers that, when in uniform, cops would no longer have to wear ties with their long-sleeved dress shirts.

Everyone was thrilled.

“The big news for the rank and file,” one insider told me in an email. “New rule -long sleeve shirts with no ties ………hooray!”

Daryl-gates

One of the first chiefs to recognize the importance of giving department members
this sort of psychological cadeau was Daryl Gates who told his troops that, except on formal occasions, officers no longer had to wear the traditional LAPD billed hat when on the job.

Gates told Patt Morrison that the hat business (and the fact that he made it the fashion for LAPD brass to wear plain blue uniforms, even for dress, instead of the gold braid covered parade get-ups that had previously been required) was something he was ” really proud of…”

When I was assistant chief in operations,” he said,” I’d roll up on a call and I’d see these officers run back to the car and put their hats on: Hats are part of the uniform. These poor officers were diverting their attention from the incident because they’re concerned about not wearing their hats. So when I became chief, I said the hats go.”

LAPD-under-bill-parker

Willie Williams, who was quite unpopular with the rank and file, cemented the cops’ antipathy for him with what one might call an anti gift. I’ve had any number of officers tell me about their irritation regarding Williams’ insistence that they make a large, very un-So-Cal, and rather expensive jacket, a required part of their sartorial accouterments. (Cops groused to me privately that they were convinced Williams only chose the coat because it better covered his formidable girth.)

Willie-williams

“What Gates and now Beck did may sound small,” said one of my department sources, “but it’s actually a big deal, because it says to the officers, ‘I get it. I get what you deal with, day to day. I get what’s important to you.'” All of which goes a long way in winning loyalty.

Good move, Chief Beck. Sometimes it really is all about the accessories (metaphorically speaking).

23 Comments

  • “he will keep crime down, keep the counter terrorism bureau healthy, and will further transform the LAPD culture from the roots up while honoring what was started with the Consent Decree.”

    ……

    Ha ha ha ha!!!!

    Oh..he was serious?

  • “Daryl Gates who told his troops that, except on formal occasions, officers no longer had to wear the traditional LAPD billed hat when on the job.”

    ………..

    They always fell off when they were beating the shit out of innocent citizens.

  • Carrie,
    Your comments are fantastico and inspirational and bring tears to my eyes. We remember Sleepy Lagoon, nothing has changed.

    D.Q.

  • Willie Williams wore a size HUSKY, Celeste. Husky sizes typically are modeled on the “average” size of the clothing brand, they are more generous at the waist and may add about an inch to two inches on the waistband and the hips. However Leg length or inseam of the husky size tends to remain the same as average or traditional size. Chief Williams was rumoured to have secretly had a cape made for special appearances. No word on a sword.

  • What Beck needs to do is stay away from all those photo ops and away from allowing the Mayor to hang out with him to get attention. The rank and file don’t like all the puff tv spots of Beck already with the Mayor posing. Bratton left behind a great team who are the true command staff responsible for the success of LAPD. I hope Beck is very careful on who he will move and promote. He already is on the verge from some command staffers who think he’ll promote his cronies who aren’t qualified. McDonnell should stay in place. I hope all goes well with the changes.

  • Wrong. Beck and the Mayor need more photo ops, if they are smart they will take 100 photographers and take the group to the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs. The mirage-like area once belonged to the Agua Caliente Indians and now houses the world’s largest natural palm oasis. Angelenos will surely love the Mayor and Beck in front of the rolling waters and rock formations, all of which will spice up their image.

  • Celeste thinks it really is all about the accessories (metaphorically speaking), but I have to go with Lyle on this one. The thought of your own Mayor Tony and new Chief Charlie posing at those Palm Springs canyons is awe inspiring. The old adage rings true: it really is about location, location, location.

  • Janet Says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 8:58 am

    “Bratton left behind a great team who are the true command staff responsible for the success of LAPD.”

    ……………

    WHAT SUCCESS? Are you serious? Success of the LAPD….HAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!! The LAPD has never succeeded at anything, ever.

  • At least not anything positive, that didn’t divide the city ^^^^. Oh, and the police do take credit for things they had nothing to do with, like the decline in gang violence in the ’90s. Maybe that’s what you’re talking about, Janet? OMG, I’ve never heard a regular citizen use the words “LAPD” and “Success” in the same sentence. Please tell me you’re a cop, Janet, or at least married to one. Whatever the case, there’s no way you spend much time around regular, everyday citizens in Los Angeles. You would kill them all by making them laugh to death if you talk like that.

  • I find it supremely ironic (and funny)that Gates told Patt Morrison, of all people, that he was dismissing the hats.

  • TAKE OFF THE HAT! ! !
    A man is standing in front of the Witness Box in a courtroom, ready to testify in a case. He is self-assured and nattily attired, his smart-looking outfit topped by an impeccable Homburg hat. He carries a black umbrella in his left hand.

    “Take off your hat,” drones the Bailiff.

    The man, we’ll call him Curly – though it could have been Joe or Curly Joe – transfers the umbrella to his right hand, and with his now free left hand takes off his hat.

    “Raise your right hand,” instructs the Bailiff.

    Curly returns the hat to his head, transfers the umbrella to his left hand and raises his right hand.

    “Take off your hat!” barks the Bailiff.

    Curly transfers the umbrella to his right hand and takes off his hat.

    “Raise your right hand!”

    Curly returns the hat to his head, transfers the umbrella to his left hand and raises his right hand.

    “Take off your hat!”

    Curly transfers the umbrella to his right hand, and takes off his hat.

    “Raise your right hand!”

    Curly returns the hat to his head, transfers the umbrella to his left hand and raises his right hand.

    “Take off your hat!!!’”

    Curly transfers the umbrella to his right hand and takes off his hat.

    “Raise your right. Hand!!!’

    Curly, revealing a stress-induced, nervous blink, repeats the maneuver ad infinitum, his once-confident facade dissolving into helplessness before our sympathetic but laughter-filled eyes.

  • No folks I’m not a cop but a concerned citizen who actually reads. Looks like some of you are out of touch. The LA Times published a poll that showed percentages in all areas of how LAPD has improved and been successful at community policing. The Harvard Study, an independent study I might add, did similar research especially in the miniority communities on LAPD policing. There is no doubt there are people who have an ax to grind with LAPD no matter what you show them or tell them as proof positive, will always have their bias.

  • Celeste, seriously? The LAPD having to wear neckties and long shirts…a social injustice? OK… I guess Chief Beck laxing up on the policy is like the Berlin wall coming down. Well, really, it’s not.

  • Janet, thanks for stepping in.

    “Carrie,” the globalized anti-cop stuff is creepy.

    Gust, you’re quite right: neckties are not a social issue.

    They’re an accessory issue.

  • The “Parker era” photo actually shows Chief Edward E.Davis inspecting the troops, back in the 1930’s.

    Chief Parker wanted cop’s tatoos (you know, the archaic ones on arms) covered by long-sleeved shirts. Since about 80% of LAPD bluesuits were WW-II or Korea vets, he gained a legion of fans in mid-summer heat!

  • Hi Fmr,

    Drat. Are you sure? (I now can’t find my original source for that photo.) Davis (and I think you mean James Davis, Ed was the guy who was chief from 1969-78) was a bit stouter and didn’t look as long legged as the guy in the photo. On the other hand, the face looks like him. OR it could look like Parker. I now can’t tell. But if you’re sure, I certainly take your word for it.

    Anyway, thanks for the reminder about Parker and the long sleeves. I love all this stuff.

  • FmrLAPDPSR – is correct on his facts.
    Moreover, his comment on the long sleeve shirt requirement is actually the one most negative policy change issue for patrol attire that the last administration scored really low negative points. Every officer I spoke to, wheather ex-marine or some other ex-branch, were extremely upset over having to cover up any tattoo – small or big.
    If Chief Beck wants to be in good standings with his troops, he should really re-issue a directive allowing officers with small insignificant tattoos below the elbow wear short sleeves shirts in the summer.
    The reality is that almost no one in LAPD wears a long sleeve uniform on patrol. When the anti-tattoo directive come out, it forced many officers to wear long sleeve shirts – which policy says needs a stupid tie.
    Totally stupid.
    I saw a guy with the American Flag – policy says he needed to cover it and wear long sleeve uniform.
    I saw a guy with a USMC and LAPD tattoo – policy says he needed to cover it and wear a long sleeve uniform.
    On other note, if Chief Beck wants to score some awesome brownie points with his troops, he should allow officers to dip tobacco while on duty.

  • Me and my friends, Gust, Carrie Prejean, SNS, and Rob Thomas love to see a man in uniform especially the LAPD uniform. xoxoxo

  • My kid’s entire back, both shoulders, one leg and inner right arm are inked. He wanted to go full sleeve but his department policy won’t allow it. It’s ridiculous considering he looks no different than many of the people he contacts every day.

    I’m sure Rob would love my tats.

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