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LAPD chief resigns; observers describe his impact on LAPD
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LAPD chief resigns; observers describe his impact on LAPD
During a noon-hour news conference Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton is describing the details of his resignation.
Political and civic leaders credit Bratton with driving down the city’s crime rate and strengthening the police department’s reputation.
Cal State Fullerton political science professor Raphe Sonenshein told KPCC’s Larry Mantle that Angelinos trusted Bratton to get the job done, despite his outspokenness and ego.
Raphe Sonenshein: “Remember, he got fired in New York by Mayor Giuliani for having the nerve for being on the cover of a magazine for claiming what great job he had done as chief.
"And out here there seems to be more of a Hollywood attitude, which is, if you’re good and you can deliver, you know, we’ll put you up there in lights with everybody else. Stop delivering, we’ll toss you. And I think that that says something good that the elected officials and the public tolerated a guy with a wholly different style than we’re used to.”
Bratton has been L.A.’s police chief for seven years. Three years remain in his second term in the job. He’s reportedly going to work for an international private security firm.
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