Bill Bratton came to LAPD during a time of crises. Morale was low. The then-chief of police had received a huge no confidence vote. Officers were staying inside their cars instead of doing police work out of fear of getting in trouble from an out-of-control disciplinary system.
“I have never seen a department eat its own like LAPD does,” Bratton told the members at the League Delegates conference shortly after he arrived. He laid down a new policy that the League has strived to help enforce.
“We cannot let the corrupt actions of a few ruin the reputation of more than 9,000 honest, hard-working cops. But let me make it equally clear that the game of “gotcha” in this Department is coming to an end. If you are in the right, we will back you up – the benefit of the doubt goes to you. If you are wrong, we will retrain you. If you are corrupt, we will jail you,” Bratton said.
This is good policy. Is it being followed? What say you?
Note: This is not the place to disclose confidential materials or engage in name calling. There is no privacy here.