Former LAPD Inspector General Andre Birotte was confirmed in early February by the US Senate as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, the nation’s most populous district, with responsibility for all federal litigation in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara U.S. Attorney.
(Andre rocks! Ahem. Sorry. But I’m still happy about the news all these months later.)
His replacement has yet to be named.
However, there is a very strong rumor that an announcement will be coming soon and that the leading contender to be the new IG is Nicole Bershon, the person who has been serving as the Assistant Inspector General under Birotte.
More on Bershon if and when she is officially named. But for now you should know that she graduated from Princeton, got her law degree from UCLA, where she co-founded the UCLA Women’s Law Journal and served as its Co-Editor in Chief.
Furthermore, as the Assistant IG, she has the reputation of being a very intelligent lawyer, very fair-minded and savvy, loaded with integrity, and very well respected by those on the law enforcement side of things.
(The Office of the Inspector General has oversight over the LAPD’s internal disciplinary process. The IG has no enforcent power, but a good IG—which Birotte was—is still is in the position to have much positive influence. )
Rick Orlov at the Daily News reports that 44 people have applied for the job.
Given what I’m hearing of her high marks, let us hope that the rumors about Bershon being at the head of the pack are true.
And, hey, all other things being equal, It’d be nice to have a smart grrrlll (who also happens to be a mom) in the position.
Birotte is a good cop. Cracked down on the LAPD for racial profiling, was critical of the department for letting too many officers who were accused of it off the hook. He will be missed.
Nicole Bershon – absolutely terrific person. The City should be so lucky.
I would LOVE to see a strong woman to be the LAPD’s new Inspector General. She sounds like she has a very solid background and am happy to see (as StillNoScript says) that Birotte is against racial profiling.
That said, I find her tacky Tiffany’s sideways heart necklace annoying. Eh, can’t have everything I guess.
Perhaps she’s a classic kind ‘a accessory girl, which is fine by me. On the other hand, we can work on it. Even the best of us have room for growth, accessorily-speaking.
Racial profiling is the most over used term in the world. People can scream it all day long and most times it’s just not the reason for a stop. Unless you’re working a lily white community and in the so cal landscape those have all but vanished, the gripes are just an excuse to get out of poor driving or poor conduct.
Finding probable cause to stop someone or seeing a VC violation that gives it to you is simple. A cop can start up a consensual encounter with someone and, no matter the race and you’ll never hear about it until it goes south. If that person’s a minority the race card will be played from time to time but the idea that profiling is some big problem is ridiculous.
Sure Fire, there are a lot of lily white communities in southern california. Lots of the valley, especially around the hills, most of Pasadena, Alhambra, most of Monterrey Park, West LA, all of the beach communities sans Venice, Orange county, again, all beach communities, San Clemente… then, since you said So Cal, all of northern San Diego, La Jolla, Kearney Mesa, Poway and the mountains, most of the Inland Empire as well.
As far as race profiling not being a problem, almost every poll ever taken amongst black people indicate that the vast majority of black people think it’s a problem. Are they imagining things or exaggerating? Should I really not trust what around 70%* of black people have to say?
*most polls amongst black people regarding race profiling seem to have about that number stating that it’s a problem, etc. And, that’s a kind estimate. I’ve seen a lot of polls around the 90% range.
Pasadena, Alhambra and Monterey Park are in no way lily white communities, no way. They are all very racially mixed, I live in the SGV and know it well.
Provide some facts with your other claims because the color of So Cal has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. Fill me in on what percentage makes a town “lily white”. I think you’re way off base,
I don’t really care what the polls say, when it’s drummed into your head from the time you’re a kid that cops only stop you due to your skin color what opinions do you think people will have?
If 70% of any race said that they were unfairly profiled, I’d believe them. And again, 70% is a kind estimate. I did a quick google on it before leaving my previous comment, and I saw some polls in the 90% range. The 70% range was actually on the low end. Do you honestly believe there are that many black people either lying or misinformed on police profiling, Sure Fire? As far as I know, these polls were taken amongst black people from all economic backgrounds, etc.
Thanks for the kind words of support. Clive, I agree with you about the necklace. (To my credit, that photo is several years old). Please check out my latest official photo on the OIG website, and you will notice the necklace is gone.
But I didn’t get the job because of my fashion sense (or lack thereof). I’d like to think I got it because of all the qualities Celeste cited. Thanks for the kind words of support. I hope to prove myself worthy of all your high praise.
Here we go again. He’s baaaack.
I’m actually glad Sure Fire’s here, Nocturnal. I enjoy his input. We disagree sometimes but I think if we avoid the personal insults, the debate can be quite constructive and educational not only for him and myself, but for readers like you, as well.
Inspector Bershon, congratulations!
Lily white, Pasadena, San Diego, and the mountains, most of the Inland Empire as well. hahaha
The San Gabriel around the hills is a diverse mix of ethnicities.
Somebody needs to visit these areas, The Inland Empire cities of San Bernardino, Colton, Fontana, Ontario and etc, are mostly minorities. You need to come to the I.E. and attend a few kick-ass Friday Night footbal games and see some some of the best High-School Football teams around.
There are lots of latino cops in these area as well, but someone might tell us minority cops are the most racist. lol
I wonder what percentage of Latinos believe that police racially profile? As of last week, probably 100%, considering it’s now legal in one state.
I was talking about you Rob, oop’s I mean SNS.
Yeah, so much for Rob being banned. The Inland football is absolute kick ass. There’s some decent SGV teams around as well but the I.E. has improved a great deal in the last 10 years or so.
Nocturnal and Sure Fire.
Given the nature of variable IPs, if someone comes in with a name and IP that is different from those who have been banned, and that person follows the rules, I will let them be as long as they do. Please follow the rules yourselves, and do not make this personal.
I am extremely aware that a particular cluster of people with variable IPs have at times reinvented themselves on this site. Nocturnal you fall into that category as well. As long as those people are civil, constructive participants, I am happy to have each of you. If that changes with any of the commenters, so will my attitude.
What about me, Nocturnal? Why would you say “he’s baaack” about me? Did I ever say anything to offend you? If so, what? Let’s discuss it like adults instead of making snide remarks intended to provoke anger.
The bill in AZ has specific language in it to prevent racial profiling. The contact must be made due a reason other than the appearance of one’s ethnicity. The contact cannot be to determine if a person is in the country illegally. Something like 42 states have the same law. But let’s keep making hay out of AZ. It’s new. It’s easy. LOL.
Of course, for those of you who haven’t read the bill, and rely on the media to tell you what’s in the bill, it’s no wonder you’re going on and on about racial profiling.
You have a problem with law enforcemnet deporting undocumented people? Call your CALIFORNIA Governor, Senators, Congresspersons, and Sheriff Lee Baca and tell them to quit allowing ICE into the LACO jail. They round up two bus loads of undocumented people a week and deport them. But you’re busy badmouthing AZ and using all the tired old talking points and EASY PC verbiage.
Read the bill. Do your homework.
The difference between what the LA County Sheriff is doing right now and the AZ County Sheriff’s will be doing in the future?
Maybe the undocumented arrestees in AZ won’t be housed in the AZ county jails for a week at taxpayers expense before being deported.
So am I banned now?