The Police Commission held a Special Meeting at Hollenbeck Middle School in an effort to reach out to the members of the Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights and El Sereno community. Each commissioner took the opportunity to give thanks to the members of the community for allowing them to hold the meeting there and gave a brief overview as to what the duties of the Police Commission encompass.
After the introductions of the commissioners, City Council Member Jose Huizar, who represents the district, spoke about the strong relationship between the community and the police officers at Hollenbeck Division. He also introduced Captain Tina Nieto, the first female Hispanic Captain on the Department, to the members of the Commission and the community.
Once Council Member Huizar completed speaking, Captain Blake Chow, Commanding Officer of Hollenbeck Division, offered an overview of the division. He stressed the strong relationships his officers have with the members of the community and their commitment to continue working closely with them in an effort to eradicate crime. He also spoke about the many outreach programs in place and on the new Hollenbeck Police Station set to open in October.
The final speaker of the night was Joe Correa from White Memorial Hospital. Mr. Correa spoke about the hospital’s role in the community. He said when ever a gang member is admitted to his facility, in addition to treatment, they are met with a gang counselor in a form of intervention. He mentioned the importance of educating his staff and working with the families of gang members as well.
Once the speakers were done, the Commission opened the floor up to public comment. Members of the community were able to speak on the issues that were closest to them. Many offered their sincere gratitude to the officers who patrol the area and others voiced concern over issues such as graffiti. The public comment portion of the meeting is the primary reason for holding the Commission meetings at special locations.
The Police Commission holds these special meetings a few times a year and anticipates continuing to reach out to the residents of the City of Los Angeles.
Comments