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New chief for LA Unified police force
Los Angeles School Police officers watch students lining up to pass through a security check point on April 21, 2005, in the aftermath of two apparent racially motivated student brawls at Thomas Jefferson High School.
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New chief for LA Unified police force
New chief for LA Unified police force
LA Unified’s board of education has tapped LAPD Captain Steven Zipperman to head the school district’s 500-member police force.
In his 31 years with the LAPD, Steven Zipperman worked in vice, narcotics, Internal Affairs and SWAT. He’s in charge of the West San Fernando Valley Division. Now he’ll head a school police department with 340 sworn officers in charge of keeping the peace on and around school grounds.
In a statement, Zipperman said his priorities will be to strengthen school security and to crack down on student truancy. Neighborhood activists have criticized school district efforts as too heavy handed. Zipperman said he’d encourage positive reinforcement to cut truancy.
And the new police chief will have to listen to the rank and file. The president of the LA School Police officers' union has said improved training and new equipment are top priorities for many on the force as the school district opens more schools each year but doesn’t hire more officers.
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