Notes from the May 11, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

•    Police Commission Vice President Alan Skobin attended the Gun Buy Back event held in the San Fernando Valley.  He said it was a good event and he was intrigued by the different people who turned in guns.  He added he was concerned over solicitors positioned near the event offering cash for guns.  Commissioner Skobin instructed the Department to look into the legality of the solicitors and insure they are not present for the next Buy Back event.

•    Police Commissoner Robert Saltzman attended the very first Police Cadet graduation.  He stated there was a lot of excitement amongst the Cadets and offered his appreciation to Assistant Chief Paysinger and others for facilitating the transition into the Cadet program.  Commissioner Saltzman also attended half of the Use of Force training seminar held by the Force Investigation Division.  He added the seminar was very helpful and instructive.

•    Police Chief Charlie Beck informed the Board the Gun Buy Back event held Citywide over the weekend was a tremendous success and netted 2511 guns.  He said nearly $200,000 in gift cards were distributed as a result and the Department is planning the event again for next year, provided there is funding available.  Chief Beck also said there are 45 recruits in the academy with another class scheduled for June.

•    The verbal presentation and update from the Commanding Officer and Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) representative regarding community initiated problem solving, crime strategies, and other programs and goals within the Hollywood Area was given by Captain Beatrice Girmala.  Captain Girmala said their C-PAB has six sub-committees.  They include homeless outreach, youth outreach, police activities league, police cadets, emergency preparedness and a nightclub committee.  Each plays a vital role in community policing goals. In addition the Hollywood C-PAB holds town-hall meetings twice a year and is holding their 2nd Annual Youth Conference this year.

•    The Department’s report, dated April 28, 2010, relative to request for proposals for Equine Farrier Services, was approved and transmitted to the Office of the Mayor and City Council.

•    The Department’s report, dated April 28, 2010, relative to transmittal of the grant application for the 2009 Law Enforcement Specialized Units Program (LESUP) Grant from the State of California Emergency Management Agency, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor and City Council concurrently.

•     The Department’s report, dated April 29, 2010, relative to Ethics Enforcement Section Quarterly Report, First Quarter, 2010, as given by Captain Paul Hernandez, was received. Captain Hernandez informed the Board 40 audits were conducted last quarter on unlawful stops, searches and seizures involving 82 employees.  Every bureau in the Department was audited and the results revealed a 92% pass rate.  The Board directed the Office of the Inspector General to submit an analysis of this report along with any appropriate recommendations back to the Board.

•    The Department report, dated April 28, 2010, relative to Biased Policing Update, Quarterly Report, 1st Quarter, as given by Commander Richard Webb, was approved.  Commander Webb informed the Board there were 59 complaints on biased policing last quarter.  He added the Constitutional Policing Unit is up and running with two to three complaints completed.  Commander Webb also stated the Department is working with the Western Justice Center to see whether complaints can be mediated.

•    The Department’s report, dated April 16, 2010, relative to Pacific Area Gang Enforcement Detail Command Accountability Performance Audit (IAID No. 09-119), as given by Captain Jon Peters, was approved.  Captain Peters said there were 2 issues raised during the audit. The first was missing property that was logged on the form.  After a small search the items were recovered. The second was nine Daily Field Activity Report’s not being signed off by the Commanding Officer.  Captain Peters informed the Board a new system has been put in place to insure this will not happen again. 

•    The Department’s report, dated April 23, 2010, relative to Non-Budgetary Funds and Accounts Audit (IAID #09-012), as given by Lieutenant Bert Mora, was approved.  Lieutenant Mora stated 11 station funds of more than $5000 were reviewed with 6 objectives in mind.  The review revealed station fund management needs improvement.  The main cause of discrepancies was the turnover of personnel. Lieutenant Mora added steps have been taken to remedy the problem including the development of training for managing funds, collaboration with the business sector, the use of reserve officers with accounting backgrounds to assist in training and bureau wide training. 

•    The Department’s report, dated February 12, 2010, and Inspector General’s report, dated May 5, 2010, relative to the Department’s Quarterly Discipline Report for the fourth quarter of 2009, was approved.  The Board also approved the Inspector General’s report.

•    The Executive Director’s report, dated May 5, 2010, relative to Official Police Garage Renewals, was approved and transmitted to City Council.

Comments

[FTO]

What has our society come to that we are basically paying people to not commit crimes? If somebody has a legally owned and registered gun that they do not want all they have to do is sell it to a local gun store. From what I understand the guns brought in at the buy back are immediately destroyed and not run for registered owner/stolen information. The guns are also not checked for ballistics. I guess people can just go out and commit crimes with guns and then turn them into the buy back so that the evidence is lost.

[Mr. Elmer]

Small government buys back guns, even when they are near broke, Yet Big government is still the biggest manufacturer of small arms (among other weapons). Go figure.

[Bob Davis]

Cost of a tytpical assault rifle: $800-$1200. Cost to the police to buy it back from an unknown person no questinos oasked or testing done: $200. Cost of being a criminal who commits a murder, gets the police to buy the murder weapon and destroy it: priceless.

[Bruce Boyer]

It should be noted that Chief Beck and Comission Skobin are in full Agreement that our Law enforcement officers are to be used ( and paid for by the taxpayers) for POLITICAL purposes at POLITICAL events (gun buy backs are not law enforcement, they are political, if anyone disagrees, please state what law is being enforced?)sponsored by the Regime/LA City Govt. Isn't it a great City that uses it's law enforcement officers as political puppets!
I would bet that our law enforcement officers would not be so foolish as to surrender one of their personal firearms, and freedoms whether for a $100 gift card or for any amount!
If the City can use law enforcement officers for political objectives, just think of the possibilities! They could be used to arrest political opponents, shut down opposing candidates, register "the right sort of people" to vote, even run the polling places
(that will keep those reactionaries from voting! The opportunities for power are limitless! Is the camel's nose under the tent, or is his whole head????