What’s the State of Police-Community Relations in LA?

Former Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton is credited with bringing a community policing approach to the LAPD, a department that, before his arrival in 2002, had been notorious for its poor relationship with the city’s minority communities. Chief Charlie Beck has continued and expanded the community policing policy. At an LAPD graduation ceremony Friday, Chief Beck told new police recruits to have empathy for those they with whom they come into contact. What’s the state of police-community relations in Los Angeles? A gang interventionist tells us about his involvement with LAPD’s efforts to improve community relations in South LA.