Word: bratton
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...danger, of course, is that the cops will become too assertive and stray back into the brutal behavior that plagued the L.A.P.D. in the past. Bratton has repeatedly said his cops may not "break the law to enforce the law," but complaints against officers are 4.5% higher than they were in 2002. That merely indicates that his men are doing their job, the chief argues, and he points out that there has been a 28% increase in shots fired at officers in the same period. "The gang bangers don't like the game being taken to them, and they...
...facilities for kids to the neighborhood. She says new injunctions against gangsters gathering in public have reduced the number of them hanging out on the streets--and the resulting shootings she used to hear. She has seen relations between the police and the community improve too, and she says Bratton deserves a lot of the credit for that. "The vibes I'm getting from the officers at the 77th--it's like the whole atmosphere is changing for the better...
...cops from the 77th station feel the change too. "Bratton promoted kick-ass take-names people--no more touchy-feely stuff," says Officer Perry Griffith, who has been in the L.A.P.D. for 14 years. "Before, the cops were just not getting out on the streets, and the bad guys knew that." Now, he says, cops have been told not to turn a blind eye when their authority is challenged. "We had someone tell a police officer, 'I'll kill you,' last week in front of a group of people," says Griffith. "Now he is in jail. Before, they would have...
...single biggest gripe that cops had about the pre-Bratton era was the proliferation of citizens' complaints that blocked promotions and pay increases, even though many claims turned out to be frivolous. So Bratton has moved quickly to simplify the complaint process. Now a division captain can decide whether or not a charge is unfounded, rather than send every file downtown for a lengthy investigation that could last for months. "I feel I am O.K. to do my job again," says Griffith...
Downtown, Bratton is continuing his efforts to make Griffith's job easier. He has replaced all but one of his assistant and deputy chiefs and is installing new technology so cops can access information more quickly while on the street. But Bratton's highest priority is finding money to hire new officers. "The L.A.P.D. has been historically understaffed, and it puts officers at risk," he says, noting that New York City has 36,720 officers, or 1 for every 218 residents, while Los Angeles has 9,320, or 1 for every 429. A request for extra funds was rebuffed...