ABLE ASSOCIATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES PROGRAM

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Bernice Benson
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1 ABLE ASSOCIATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES PROGRAM

2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE BERNARD C. PARKS Good Afternoon! Welcome to this historical meeting. All of us are gathered here today to discuss important issues concerning the history of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and to talk about future issues. Recently, the LAPD entered into a Consent Decree with the U. S. Department of Justice. This document will forever change the way the LAPD operates as well as it will affect all of us individually. Both, those of you who have retired after dedicating many years of your life to a career with the Department, as well as current members of the LAPD family, will no doubt be impacted by these changes. I ask you to view these changes as a positive progress for the Department and to do whatever you can to support me in making these necessary transitions. ABLE has always been an organization that stands ready to help the community, fellow officer and other entities. Although recently ABLE has not been involved in Departmental and community issues, I strongly encourage you to not only take part in Department matters, but also to become an important entity within the community. It is as partners with the community that we can address crime and other social fields as well as enhance the quality of life. I strongly encourage you to become involved, attend meetings, be aware, alert and participate.

3 LOCATION & DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS

4 LOCATION AND TIME OF FUTURE MEETINGS All Future Meetings Will Be Held On The Last Tuesday of Each Month at 5:30 p.m. Please join us at ABLE's new and permanent home in the Washington Mutual Bank Building With the O.J.B. Foundation 4401 South Crenshaw Suite B-8 ABLE's mailing address remains the same: P.O. Box Los Angeles,

5 Dear Members & Potential ABLE Member: The Board of Directors of the Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives ( ABLE) Nould like to invite you to join our organization. Talented individuals like yourself are greatly needed to propel ABLE into the 21 Century. The next ABLE meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 at 1730 hours, at its new office located at 4401 S. Crenshaw Boulevard, Suite B-8 (in the Washington Mutual Bank Building on the corner of Stocker and Crenshaw). It is imperative that all ABLE members attend this meeting. This meeting will mark the beginning of a new and stronger organization. Please join us and contribute a little of your time to assist in meeting the goals of the organization. Bring a friend! Sincerely, Fred

6 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

7 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE The Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (ABLE) was formed in the mid-'70s by officers who promoted to management positions in various police agencies and needed the support of one another. The focus has not changed over the years. Education, networking and mentorship are still the essence of ABLE. It is comforting to know that if assistance is needed there is someone to call upon. However, ABLE has now found it absolutely necessary to be part of and work in partnership with the community to develop strategies that will at once reduce incidents of crime and enhance the quality of life. In doing so, ABLE will not only fulfill its responsibility as a viable employee organization, but will also be an integral part of the community. This trend will continue. ABLE will also focus on the youth because they are the future of our community, our Department and our country.

8 LAPD BLACK BENCHMARKS 1781 City of Los Angeles founded 1850 Los Angeles incorporated as a City 1869 Los Angeles first paid police force 1886 First Black Policeman ROBERT WILLIAM STEWART 1916 First Black Policewoman GEORGIA ANN ROBINSON 7/1/1923' First Black Lieutenant Detective WILLIAM L. STEVENS 1923 First Black Officer killed in the line of duty CHARLES P. WILLIAMS 2/16/1924 First Black Detective Captain (Assistant) WILLIAM W. GLENN 1936 First Black Detective Captain (Acting) HOMER GARRETT 5/1/1943 First Black Sergeant of Police AJAY JOHNSON EARL C. BROADY 12/24/1940 First Black Line Lieutenants (Watch Comm) ROSCOE WASHINGTON EARL C. BROADY AJAY JOHNSON 11/1950 First Black Female Sergeant VIVIAN STRANGE 10/16/81 First Black Female Lieutenant MARION HELLENCAMP 1 %1 First Black Medal of Valor Awardee HENDERSON COOPER 7/22/69 First Black Captain Div. Comm. Officer HOMER BROOME 1981/1987 First Black Deputy Chief/Assistant Chief JESSE BREWER 6/26/1992 First Black Chief of Police WILLIE WILLIAMS 4/9/2000 First Black Female Captain ANN YOUNG NO DATES FOUND First Black Motorcycle Officer First Black Traffic Investigator (AID) First Black Lieutenant in FBI Academy PAUL KUYKENDALL JEFF HOLMES FRED BOOKER

9 LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCES FOR THE LOS ANGELES POLICE s DEPARTMENT

10 LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCES FOR THE LAPD BY: Bernard C. Parks Chief of Police, Los Angeles Police Department On the positive side, we have the evolution of community policing, which is the new model of policing that can no longer be ignored. Creative, problem-oriented community policing is the philosophy that Los Angeles police officers now employ, taking a more holistic approach to serving our communities. Although tradition holds a high place in the law enforcement culture, we must also be aware of our responsibility to adapt to the changing demands of a diverse society. Community policing is the key to these changes. Technology and the transition in the use of force. Law enforcement has been altered tremendously by new technologies. Examples include latent fingerprint identification (that helped identify the notorious "Night Stalker" Richard Ramirez in 1985 in Los Angeles), computerized identification systems, the DNA process, blood and urine testing and more. Less-than-lethal weaponry such as Tasers, rubber bullets and chemical shields also provide alternatives to the use of deadly force. The Violent Crime Control Act. The law allocated very substantial funding to support the development and expansion of community policing through additional personnel and improved technology. Additionally, the legislation authorized funding for programs to prevent violence against women. The monetary infusion helped start the Los Angeles Police Department's technological modernization. The introduction of the DARE program. The LAPD authored and implemented the nation's first law enforcement-based drug resistance program aimed at elementary school children. Launched modestly in 1983, the DARE program today benefits 35 million school children, coached on personal safety, self-esteem, respect for law and the ability to say "no to drugs, gangs and violence." Crime fluctuation. The past nine years have marked the longest running crime reduction on record. The decline can be attributed to aggressive anti-crime efforts, computer-tracking crime systems, the constant police force buildup, a crackdown on gangs, innovative community policing programs, the "three strikes law" in California, the strong economy and lower unemployment Police officer and management accountability. At the forefront of the new philosophy of law enforcement in the LAPD is the comprehensive FASTRAC program, which is geared toward building effective performance and accountability into all the LAPD's systems. The record-setting low crime rates in the 1990s suggest that accountability among law enforcement personnel is having a positive impact. Then, of course, there are the negatives: The proliferation of guns, gangs and drugs. During the 1980s and 1990s, stories of violence and gang warfare were daily headline news. Although police departments have developed sophisticated ways to fight powerful gangs and drug cartels, the fight for our children's safe future continues. Combined with the presence of gangs, guns and drugs on our streets is the failure of many parents and institutional support mechanisms, including schools, to influence the lives of our children. By simply being more involved in the daily lives of our nation's youth, we can lead them to more productive paths. The 1992 civil unrest in Las Angeles. The verdict that acquitted four white police officers of beating Rodney King, a black male, became a pivotal point in the history of the LAPD. Riots erupted hours after the acquittal, and when it was over 2,500 people were injured and an estimated Si billion in property had been damaged. Nationwide, debates on race relations, urban decay and the role and actions of police continued for months. The impact of the riots remains today as departments strive to strengthen community-based policing and diversity programs and to restore and maintain public confidence in the police. The Rampart area corruption incident/board of Inquiry. Just as certain events indelibly alter human lives, whether we realize it at the time or not, organizations also have defending moments and the Rampart episode will and should be a life-altering experience for the LAPD. Our failure to provide effective oversight and auditing created the opportunity for these events to occur. We must never forget that this occurred and be ever vigilant that we never allow the opportunity for this to occur again.

11 SOURCE: Law Enforcement News A Publication of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, September 30,

12 BIOGRAPHY OF THE PRESIDENT

13 LIEUTENANT FRED L BOOKER OFFICER-IN-CHARGE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SECTION Lieutenant Fred Booker joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1972, and has held a variety of assignments leading up to his recent position as Officer-in-Charge of the Community Relations Section. During his 26-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department, Lieutenant Booker, or Fred as he likes to be called, has worked throughout the City, in such designations as undercover intelligence, patrol, narcotics, vice and detectives operations. Promoted to the rank of detective in 1980, Fred was assigned to Detective Headquarters Division, and then to Juvenile Division to concentrate his efforts on eradicating the sale and use of narcotics in and around secondary schools. He served with an elite group of detectives assigned to the Organized Crime Intelligence Division, assisting in solving an organized food stamp theft and distribution ring. Following his assignment to the Terrorist Threat Squad during the 1984 Olympics, he promoted to Sergeant, where he worked in Wilshire Patrol Division as a Patrol Supervisor, and then transferred to Southwest Area where he was promoted and placed in charge of the Southwest Area Vice Unit. He has held other assignments in the Internal Affairs Division and Uniformed Services Group, where as an Aide to the Commanding Officer, he spearheaded Los Angeles Police Department efforts to ensure that the City's first subway system remained crime free. Upon his promotion to Lieutenant in 1983, Fred headed a task force to conduct the Department's first Divisional Environmental Audit, and served as Watch Commander, Southwest Patrol Division. He remained in this capacity until February 1995, where he was upgraded to Lieutenant II and was assigned as the Officer-in-Charge of the Recruit Training Section, Training Division. Lieutenant Booker is an honor graduate of the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Supervisor Leadership Institute (SLI), where he often serves as a class facilitator. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and most recently completed a POST Middle Manager Course at the San Diego Regional Training Center. Lieutenant Booker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from California State University, Los Angeles, and is a member of many professional and community organizations. "My mission for the Community Relations Section of Community Affairs Group is to develop, recommend, and strengthen policy and programs that enhance police and community relations. I am also working to increase the understanding and cooperation of the community and reduce the fear of crime."

14 ABLE MEMBER INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE What would youlike to see ABLE accomplish? Has ABLE been beneficial to your career? Yes No To someone else you know? Yes No In your view, should ABLE's role be one of political activism? Yes No If you have not been attending ABLE meetings, why? Scheduling conflicts. The organization does not have clearly stated objectives. The location of the meetings is undesirable. Other. Please explain. Would you be willing to attend the next regularly scheduled ABLE meeting if invited? Yes No Is there anything ABLE could do to encourage your membership? Yes No If yes, please explain.

15 ASSOCIATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION _ NAME RES. ADDRESS HOME PHONE # WORK PHONE # PAGER # ADDRESS CURRENT RANK ASSIGNMENT DIVISION

Superintendent of Police

CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW of Staff Superintendent of Police Advisor Advisor for Community Affairs Office of the General Counsel Office of Communications Internal Affairs First Deputy