A House Divided (or United) Cannot Stand
The City Councils public safety committee doesnt think the situation has to be as hellish as it is. Their solution? Make the LAX police force the LAPDs problem. The committee has unanimously endorsed a notion to allow a ballot measure to let the voters decide to combine the two forces.
There are two sides to every argument, and when it concerns the government, there are usually too many sides to count. On the one hand, combining the two forces under Chief Brattons rule may help shape up the LAX force, which it certainly needs. Currently, 15 of its members are under investigation for using working hours for leisure activities. On the other hand, bigger bureaucracy is usually never a good solution. The Airport Transport Association, a lobby organization, quotes the potential merger as costing upwards of $45 million dollars.
The biggest potential roadblock to the merger is the difficulty of incorporation. For example, if the merger succeeds, how will the LAX police accustom themselves to only working three days a week? Will they be able to find another job? Some proponents of keeping things separate believe the LAX police have specialized skills that could make things difficult if they had to work within the larger network of the LAPD (yeah, specialized skills including storming an airliner and crashing a police SUV in a car chase). Others argue that the city could illegally divert aviation-generated revenue from LAX by deploying officers elsewhere in the city (well, if Tony cant get measure A-lite back on the ballot, something has to be done, right?)
Stories: LA Times, Daily Breeze and Daily News
Posted by Anonymous @ 1/11/2005 11:13:00 AM
18 Comments:
Those loser LAX officers can learn a hell of a lot from LAPD. LAX officers aren't trained nearly as well. They train with the sheriff's at Redondo. A far cry from the world famous LAPD academy where FBI and CIA guys come to learn from the best. I say put them together. Let's show them how its really done. Do you really think that shooter a couple of years ago who stormed the foreign airline and shot a person would have done that knowing that LAPD was there? I don't think so. LAX gets tons of federal money that we can use. Let's see how this all plays out.
It would be a smart move to combine the departments. The above poster is correct....it would make for a much safer environment all around.
Additionally, one of the reasons the cops at LAX(and there is no real excuse)they are as lazy as it seems is because they consider it a boring job. Generally not a lot happening except directing traffic and walking around. With LAPD there, they could rotate officers in and out so they wouldn't have opportunity to get lazy, etc.
My real question is, having seen some of them, whether or not they would be in either the shape or have the knowledge to even lateral to LAPD without going through an entire rigid academy.
Additionally, maybe there are too many of them, considering LAPD already has a substation there ....and lots of LAPD cops work overtime !!!!
C'mon everyone knows that if you're not LAPD you just couldn't cut it. It's prestigeous to say your with LAPD and if you can't make it then you go to other departments that aren't as rigid and easier. Santa Monica and other smaller depts. don't even have a gang unit. I would hate to think if anything major happens in their cities. Remember when Santa Monica had that big fight at Vibe awards? They had to call in Culver City, Beverly Hills etc. to help. Those are depts. I want watching my back
Reading the story, I thought about the issues differently. Why do the voters have to give the merger their blessing or opposition to the merger? I mean, isn't this a job for the City Council, the Council that is, by their own admissions, wonderfully qualified and staffed by highly intelligent, highly qualified people? Assuming the voters have enough information to make an informed decision (I'm a supporter of democracy, but that's a big assumption), should they even have to? I don't think so. That's what we pay the Council members to do. Then again, I don't trust Cindy or Janice to do much of anything correctly, so maybe it is a job for the Council, the Council we deserve. Change starts at the top, everyone knows that, so if we want an intelligent, bold, forward-thinking Council, we need to start by electing a mayor that can do more than pass out pay-to-play contracts. Are you listening Mr. Hertzberg?
The real story behind the LAX Police is as follows:
For years now it was a known inside joke to everyone connected to law enforcement in Southern California that a cop or sheriff that could not make the cut or that was not interested in a real Police job to head for LAX. The real losers went to school Police. The reason for this is very simple. There is absolutely no oversight at these agencies. The LAX Police in particular is known as the "Coffee Cop" club, or as we call them the "LAXCC".
The recent media reports was only a drop in the bucket. There are inside reports that CBS2 had much juicier footage but was stymied by threats of law suits as well as potential charges by Dept. of Homeland Security for footage so outrageous and obtained via a real lack of true security at the airport (yeah post 9-11 and all).
The LAPD with all its systems in place for dealing with every situation possible will be able to merge the LAX Police in a heartbeat. The LAX Police Union's bellyaching is nothing more that guarding their turf. Did you know that the directors of the LAX Police union earn larger salaries than their counterparts at LAPD?
The current Captain at the LAPD's LAX substation is a very well respected and former very tough Marine officer named Captain Jim Bower. He is well credentialed to lead the LAX division when they merge.
Additionally the bellyaching of current LAX Police officers that they will have to repeat the background check upon merging into the LAPD (as was done when the LAPD and MTA Police merged in the 90's) is counterproductive. If an LAX officer cannot pass a background check with the LAPD, they better not be cops at a hi-risk target like LAX. We deserve only the best officers at the airport.
LAX Police has run its course. I advise all my fellow bloggers out there to purchase (quickly) any LAX Police knick-knacks because they are to be relics in the very near future
and one message to the inept and bumbling LAX officers..... Don't let the door slam you on the a** on your way out.
Great post. LAX is a joke and thank god CBS nailed them. I can imagine the stuff we didn't see. I agree if those losers can't pass the background or polygraph they don't deserve to wear LAPD badge. Go to Culver City. LAX is federally funded. There's a hell of a lot of loot to be had. No one is more deserving than our own boys in blue.
Captain Bower would be a wonderful choice to command the separate, Los Angeles Airport Police Division. The Los Angeles World Airports needs to remove the Command Staff of LAXPD and keep the remaining 335 hard working officers (many of which retired from LAPD).
Law Enforcement jobs just aren't the same anymore. Publicized beatings, theft, drug dealing... yes, LAPD has made it rough for a career Officer with any agency.
What I don't understand is why KCBS focused on 15 officers and not notice the exceptional job of the additional 335? Maybe a Councilmember tipped off KCBS to entrap the Officers? KCBS didn't show the footage of 2 LAPD Officers asleep on the airfield? KCBS didn't discuss the LAPD Officer assigned to the substation that was recently arrested for drug trafficking. Unlike LAPD, the LAXPD doesn't beat people!!!
Sounds like its all about Mayor Poopy's Alt. J and all of the cash that comes with it!
Sounds like you all have way to much time to kill. First most of you who are writing this crap dont have a clue. They were set up by a disgruntled employee Charles McClough and a fired security guard Kevin Turner. This was all set up by Weiss and CBS. He needs a platform for his run for office. The Airport Police Dept. was established because LAPD would not or did not have the manpower to respond to the calls. The only thing wrong with the Airport Police is Chief Wilson, Capt. Fitchpatrick and Capt. Green, they ran the dept. into the ground.
First of all I would like to congratulate all of you mental midgets on the hoopla you perceive as truth. I will address all of your rumor mill beliefs one by one.
For the first clown of the post you want to talk about working hours for leisure activities, talk to the city council members who you think should decide the fait of the officers. You then talk about the crashing of a SUV in a car chase and storming a plane, again learn the facts before you open your soup cooler. First off the car was not crashed in a chase it was wrecked responding to the mighty LAPDs call for assistance. Next regarding the storming of a plane, wich was only borded after the pilot had exited and the FBI and the LAPD gave the go ahead to enter. If you have any questions just read the report the FBI released.
Next to the genius who thinks LAX cops are trained with the "sheriffs at Redondo", sorry Jack wrong county. In reality the cops at LAX are trained at Rio Hondo along with 90% of the other agencies in Southern California. The other officers who did not attend Rio Hondo were trained by yes, the LAPD. So if you want to talk about how great the LAPD training is, who do we blame for the officers who attended the LAPD academy.
To the next brain surgeon who thinks it would be difficult to go through "an entire rigid academy", no I dont think it would be too hard to drink lattes and wear a suit. The one thing you do know is its all about the airport money, OVERTIME!
The next rocket scientist talks about small departments not having a gang unit, well if you kept control of your children and learned how to be a parent these cities wouldn't have to worry about it.
Now on to the scholar who think the union members at LAX make more than others, one word WRONG. Sorry but all officers who are elected to the union make no bonus money and unlike other unions they work on a daily basis in the field not behind a desk.
And to add to the backround check comments, wrong again same standards as the LAPD. All applicants need to do is check the box for wich city department you are applying for ie: LAX,LAPD,or GSD.
To all of you who talked about the Federal money the Airport has to offer, correct it does. The only problem is, it would be a violation of law to use those funds for whoever or whatever outside the airport. Im sure some politician will try and swindle the money away for some other benefit or favor and yes violate the law. Maybe it could be used to help with the budget since none of them seem to be capable of balancing it.
To leave you with one final note. If they LAX police is merged into the LAPD these officers will come from your neighborhood to go to the airport. Have you tried calling them lately? If you do I hope you have at least a couple hours to wait, hell you already wait 2 whats 3 hours when you need help. Would you rather be protected by a department who has been publicized beating people or one who has been caught on tape eating a BIG burger....you make the call. SD
Cops who beat up the bad guys. You got that right. I'd much rather at least have cops out there trying to put the bad guys away instead of sitting at Taco Bell for 2 hours screwing around and not answering emergency calls. LAX everyone knows are lazy and don't give a crap and have no pride in their jobs. I see their damn cars all over the city at eating places. They're bored and complacent. They need a good shake up
ITS WAS DEL TACO FOOL. GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. ITS FOOLS LIKE YOU THAT BELIEVE WHAT THE NO MORALS MEDIA PRINTS AND DISPLAYS ON TV.
AND FOR ALL OF YOU LAPD LOVERS...WELL ANY ONE SHOULD REALIZE THAT ITS THE LATE GREAT LAPD!!! THOSE CLOWNS ARE THE BIGGEST CRY BABIES IN THE CITY OF LA.
THEY ARE NOTHING BUT A GANG OF LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DIST EDUCATED DUMMIES. ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS WORK THREE DAYS A WEEK AND CRY EVERY FEW YEARS FOR A PAY RAISE.
TRY CALLING THEM TO RESPOND FOR ASSISTANCE WITH A PROBLEM. YOUR BETTER OFF MAKING AN APPOINTMENT FOR NEXT WEEK!!! THE ENTIRE CITY SYSTEM NEEDS A WAKE UP CALL FOR SERVICE TO THE CITY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO SERVE. THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE AT THE FRONT OF THE LIST. THEY ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. ITS ALL ABOUT THEM AND STAYING IN POWER AND GETTING RE-ELECTED. THEY WILL LIE AND DECEIVE TO GET RE-ELECTED.
GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. THINK FOR YOURSELF. THE WHOLE CITY IS SLOWLY FALLING APART.
Its a never ending battle of the master minds. Now some dumb fool who wants cops who beat people. Give me a break, or should I say a beating. Your probably the type of person whos child or friends kid gets beaten then your on the news talkiing about what a model citizen they were. You will be holding a picture of the kid when he was like 10 in a baseball uniform. In reality he is now 17 slinging dope on the street corner. Then, we as citizens will have to pay the law suit when you sue the police you thought were so great. Ladies and gentlemen your distinguished voter has spoken....he wants beatings!
another merger...not again!!!!!remember when lapd merged with the mta for police services? well that was supposed to save money and improve service...not...lapd lost the contract due to lousy service. the sheriff now handles the mta lines.
now some lound mouth council man is crying for a merger of lapd and airport police. once again the council reacts and starts the process with out thinking! where is the plan to do this merger? there are not enough lapd officers to cover the city as it is. are we know going to send lapd officers to an airport that is one of the safest in country in regards to security? use your head city council.
the people of the city of los angeles voted for the airport to remain their own agency. is this another attempt of the lapd to grow and hold the airport hostage when they dont get a raise? what will this cost the la city tax payers this time? there are lapd officers assigned to a so called sub-station at lax, what do they do at lax when there are already airport police there? i bet we could use those sub-station officers some where else in the city!
the people realize what is going on and a few seconds of airport police officers eating lunch is the least of the problems that need to be taken care of. the news media puts a spin on everything so they could get ratings.
now is the time for the mayor to be real leader and not fall into the political trap that has eroded this city. the people placed you in office because they believed in you.
may be the people of los angeles can place a measure on the ballot to merge the city with the county! oh forget that we dont want Zev back!!!
It's pretty obvious here that most of the people posting are police officers, either LAPD, an agency around LAX, or the airport police. Let's take a look at things without all the name calling. If LAPD is brutal, they have their reasons. If LAX officers appear lazy, it's just that--they might "appear" that way but KCBS didn't put out the whole story.
1. Officers sitting up at the food court during their shift were in the area they were assigned. So long as they weren't eating, they didn't violate any policies.
2. The officer's pictured at Del Taco did not ignore emergency calls--the call was about an unattended bag and was handled by another unit before the originally assigned unit heard it and could answer. As for being there long after their break ended, that had already been authorized by supervisors, so again, no problem.
3. The report said the officers stayed at their union office for hours. Again--no proof. The officers were not there and only came back at the end of their shift to pick up some stuff they had left there.
3. As for the supervisor who was picking up his child at school, that has been going on for many years and was no big secret. If officers knew then the chief knew and had no objections.
4. The so called party at the sub station house was attended by a number of officers, all of whom were on break. A few stayed over their times because they had business with the supervisor there.
Most, if not all, of the complaints registered against the officers and supervisors by the KCBS reporters were not presented in an objective light. As for the complaints from other agencies about the airport police spending all their time eating, well, that might be partially true--they do have some sizable people, but then again so does LAPD, LASO, etc... Who cares where they eat so long as the job gets done?
The comments about airport police being the place where losers go to get a job wasn't fair or even accurate. We could go on and on about criminals, gangsters, and thugs in all southern California agencies. It's just the nature of the beast nowadays and the airport police are no better and certainly no worse at recruiting and training than any other agency.
If LAPD wants to take over the airport police that's fine. I suspect a lot of folks there might like the pay and better pension. But if you're going to debate the issue, then do it reasonably.
I don't understand all the negative press directed towards the LAXPD. LAPD has been the leading agency for coruption across the nation. LAPD does a terrible job at protecting the city and now beleive they can handle the airport. No Way, how many more innocent kids will have to be killed by the KKK affiliated LAPD.
All of you have got it wrong. No one has every taken the time to come on a ride along. "Yes , we still do ride alongs"! or even listen to our police frequency on a scanner, freq# 460.5250 . Listen to LAPD call us to handle calls.
The LAPD officer in a black & white doesn't want to take over LAX. they will admit that they just don't understand it.
Before anyone post a rebuttle to my posting, come and take a ride-a-long first. if you cant do that, then your opinion doesn't doesnt count.
by the way, we're hiring!
http://www.lawa.org/police/video/police.wmv
All of you have got it wrong. No one has every taken the time to come on a ride along. "Yes , we still do ride alongs"! or even listen to our police frequency on a scanner, freq# 460.5250 . Listen to LAPD call us to handle calls.
The LAPD officer in a black & white doesn't want to take over LAX. they will admit that they just don't understand it.
Before anyone post a rebuttle to my posting, come and take a ride-a-long first. if you cant do that, then your opinion doesn't doesnt count.
by the way, we're hiring!
http://www.lawa.org/police/video/police.wmv
Well, I guess the people of this fine city have spoken. No on Charter Amendment A! No LAPD at the airport! Unless, of course, they have an airline ticket.
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