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In the Course of Change: The Los Angeles Police Department Five Years After the Christopher Commission

NCJ Number
174032
Date Published
1996
Length
162 pages
Annotation
This report examines the extent to which the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has addressed the recommendations of the Independent (Christopher) Commission in its July 1991 report and has changed the pervasive culture and environment that contributed to and culminated in the Rodney King beating incident.
Abstract
The analysis concludes that progress has been significant in some areas such as the transition to an organization that emphasizes the community-police partnership and has been halting in other areas such as in management accountability for dealing with at-risk police officers. The achievements are due largely to the determination and diligence of a newly emerging coalition of LAPD stakeholders who have assumed the burden of moving the agency forward. Further needed actions include the strengthening of the partnerships developed between the LAPD and the community and the LAPD and the rest of city government, as well as the creation of more new partnerships. In addition, the city's elected officials need to continue to emphasize the needs of the LAPD and to continue to seek the crucial resources needed. Table, figure, and attached report of the Special Counsel to the Los Angeles Police Commission