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*At a press conference set for today (05-14-18) at 4pm Pacific, a diverse group of leading South Los Angeles religious and civil rights leaders are calling upon Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to appoint San Francisco Police Chief William “Bill” Scott as the new Los Angeles Police Chief replacing the retiring Chief Charlie Beck. Scott joined the SFPD after serving 27 years in the Los Angeles Police Department. He rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief of LAPD’s South Bureau after being promoted to Commander in 2012.
Scott has decades of experience with the L.A. Police Department, coming of age during the 1992 riots, helping to implement reforms dictated by a federal consent decree and being promoted to high positions by Beck. Scott was the LAPD’s highest-ranking African American officer when he left to lead the San Francisco Police Department, which was reeling from controversial police shootings and a scandal involving racist texts sent by police officers. He is working to implement reforms recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice in San Francisco and has pushed to arm all his officers with Tasers.
“Chief Scott has a wide range of support throughout the city but especially in South L.A. which historically has had a troubled relationship with the LAPD which resulted in 2 major riots in 1962 and 1992. Many residents still have mistrust of the LAPD because of the continued controversial shootings of unarmed African-Americans and Latinos by the LAPD. Our coalition isn’t supporting Scott based on his race. Scott is the only finalist who has experienced being the Police Chief of a major city. That’s the type of leadership we need in Los Angeles. Someone who can hit the ground running, and a Chief we believe can help restore trust in the LAPD. We believe Scott can help bridge the gap between disenchanted community residents and activists.
Scott is the type of leader who will boost morale in the LAPD which he knows in and out, but also continue to push for community engagement. Our diverse coalition strongly urges Mayor Garcetti not to be swayed by racial politics but choose Scott who we believe is the best candidate with decades of experience within the LAPD and the only finalist to have actually led a Police Department in a major city.” Stated Pastor Kelvin Saul’s of Holman United Methodist Church and Najee Ali civil rights activist and President of Project Islamic HOPE.
Press Conference
Date: Monday May 14, 2018
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Holman United Methodist Church
3320 West Adams Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90018
source:
Najee Ali
[email protected]