Activists for racial justice who have organized massive protests in the streets of L.A. since Minneapolis police killed George Floyd say the LAPD's new Community Safety Partnership Bureau is the opposite of what they want.
The bureau is based on a program that was piloted in housing developments like Jordan Downs in Watts. That program was designed to rethink how law enforcement interacts with residents in order to improve relations between the two, and it has been touted by some observers and researchers as a success.
But activists are opposed to funding police to do jobs like social work or mental health outreach, which they believe should be left to professionals in those fields rather than armed officers. Groups that want to defund the LAPD argue the city cannot police its way out of law enforcement violence toward Black people.
The head of the CSP says she welcomes their concerns. Emada Tingirides, who is being promoted to deputy chief to oversee the new CSP Bureau, told those at the meeting:
"I do understand that we have a lot of work to do in mending those relationships."
READ THE FULL STORY:Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
