Notes from the January 27, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

• Police Commission Vice President John Mack returned to duty after a brief stint away.  He expressed his gratitude to his fellow Commissioners during his hiatus.

• Police Commissioner Andrea Ordin stated she was in Washington D.C. for the inauguration of the new President of the United States. 

• Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman welcomed back Police Commission Vice President John Mack and offered his well wishes.

• Police Commissioner Skobin reported there has been a strong outpouring of support from both officers and the public for the creation of the Purple Heart or Purple Shield Award by the Police Commission.  He stated there has been more spontaneous support for this project than any other issue he has been involved with over the past 5 1/2 years.

• First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell participated in the 2009 Global Torch Run which he said was well attended.  He added the Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest fundraiser for the Special Olympics.  Chief McDonnell added the crime stats for the week were not yet available due to a glitch after the new Topanga and Olympic Community Police Stations came online.  He informed the board the stats would be available by week’s end.

• The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the Department’s 2008 Officer Involved Shootings was continued until next week due to Police Chief William Bratton wanting to attend.

• The City Personnel Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the Police Officer Selection Process was given by Chief Personnel Analyst John Dunlop, Chief Personnel Analyst Gail Thomas and Assistant General Manager of the Personnel Department Gloria Sosa.  Ms. Thomas stated in July of 2005, the City started the process of hiring 1,000 new police officers with an emphasis on reaching out to females.  She added personnel is working closely with recruitment section and the Department holds “meet & greets” every week for potential candidates.  With regards to background standards, the Department has six areas of emphasis. Intrapersonal skills and respect for others, decision making and judgment, maturity and discipline, honesty and integrity, setting and achieving goals, and records check. 

• The Department’s report, dated January 15, 2009, relative to the Revocations and Updated Home-Garaging Authorities – Fiscal Year 2008/2009, was removed.

• The Department’s report, dated November 14, 2008, and Inspector General’s Report, dated January 22, 2009, relative to the Department’s Discipline Report for the Third Quarter of 2008, was approved.

Comments

[Ed O'Shea]

I would like to submit to the Police Commission what an LAPD front line Officers Badge means to them and to the City we Protect. This is a poem written about the Spartans shield back in 480 BC by an unknown author. It's still applicable today.

“This is my Shield. I bear it before me into battle, but it is not mine alone. It protects my Brother on my left. It protects my City. I will never let my Brother out of it's shadow nor my City out of it's shelter. I will die with my Shield before me facing the enemy.”

The Purple Shield is the very least, the very least, we can do for the Officers and their families who have come close too or made the ultimate sacrifice if the course of their duty. And that occurrence more specifically is a direct result of a violent suspects actions.

Again, thank you to the Police Commission getting the Purple Shield up and running. I am shocked that this has not been addressed sooner, though I have a sneaking suspicion that it has. This time it sounds like it's getting the footing it deserves and with the Police Commission leading the charge, I think it will come to fruition soon.

[Rob Humphries]

The Purple Shield proposal has been submitted several times throughout the years. Most recently, PO3 J. Broussard #35924, who has kept it alive by keeping in the Awards and Decorations sight, submitted it in 2002. The Awards and Decorations Committee had approved it and mock medals were made for approval and have been displayed at recent ceremonies, but every time a fire is lit under the Purple Shield, it quickly burns out due to opposition. Why?