LAPD Law Enforcement

The LAPD Wants to Try “Soft” Discipline – UPDATED

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UPDATE: Bratton got what he asked for. The police commission approved the new proposal that will give the chief expanded powers allowing him to streamline the department’s discipline procedure. The Daily News has more detailed view of the whys and wherefores of the new strategy—which, frankly, sounds pretty smart and appropriate.

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This is either a really good idea—or a terrible one.
The Los Angeles Police Commission is set to vote today on a proposal by LAPD Chief Bill Bratton that aims to approach a whole range of use-of-force issues and certain officer-involved-shootings through training rather than strictly investigation and discipline. It makes me nervous, but the thinking is intriguing and I’m interested to hear more. The LA Times has some of the details:

The move would alter a review system used by the department for more than 25 years. And it comes as part of a recent, ongoing shift within the LAPD away from hard-nosed discipline toward a more nuanced approach of “strategy before penalty.”

“I imagine a department full of thoughtful, creative police officers who aren’t confused about doing the right thing because they understand the principles behind what is expected of them,” Deputy Chief Mark Perez, head of the department’s Professional Standards Bureau, said about the department’s new approach to discipline.

The key is doing it in such a way that some of the city’s urban communities, which haven’t always had the most comfortable relationship with the LAPD, will be assured that the department takes officer misconduct seriously.

As I said, it’s tricky. But if one buys the notion that good management has a lot in common with good parenting, which several successful management theories hold that it does, it may be time trade in what lingers of the old paramilitary model for a more finely-tuned strategy. In any case, the idea seems worth our attention.

By the way, if you click over to the full story, look at the web headline (screen captured above).

In its past headlines the paper has referred to the chief as “Chief Bratton,” “William Bratton,” or just “Bratton.” In other words, they’ve acted like they—and we—know him. Now suddenly the headline sounds as if it’s referring to some unfamiliar police chief in a far away city.

A week or so ago LA Observed noticed a similar headline about Villaraigosa that was, if anything, stranger:

Is the Times now outsourcing its web headlines to Chicago? What’s going on here?

Anyway, let me know what you think of Chief whatsisname’s plan.

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PS: Lighter posting this morning because last night I got home way
too late after seeing some movie about a guy in a bat costume. (Had to do it.)

2 Comments

  • LA Slimes has a vendetta out for LAPD recently. Notice all the negative stories they’ve been putting out. Chief Bratton is world reknown, has been named the best chief in the US and whether you like him or not people know who the hell he is. Since the Bernard Parks days good officers have lost their careers because of the harsh discipline system. I’m glad as are thousands in this city who support their officers that the old system is being modified. This city has allowed the media to treat officers like suspects and the suspects like victims. Reporters fail to write the negative about a suspect but don’t think twice about trashing our officers. GOOD FOR BRATTON

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