Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton to step down

William J. Bratton is expected to announce plans to resign as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department today to take over as head of a private security firm, sources have told The Times.

Bratton is expected to announce his decision at a noon press conference today. He did not return several calls seeking comment. 

The decision by Bratton, who has dramatically reshaped the LAPD and pushed down crime rates since taking over in 2002, took the city’s political and police leadership by surprise. 

As Bratton flew back to Los Angeles from a personal trip to New York Tuesday night, aides to his boss, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said Villaraigosa knew nothing of the planned departure. 

Likewise, members of the civilian panel that oversees the LAPD, as well as the deputy and assistant chiefs whom Bratton entrusts with the day-to-day operations of the department, were caught off-guard when asked about Bratton’s imminent resignation. 

Bratton, 61, leaves with more than three years remaining in his second term. In Los Angeles, he cemented his reputation as one of the country’s leading law enforcement minds.

 As he did during a short stint as head of the New York City Police Department, Bratton implemented a crime-fighting strategy in L.A. built around an obsessive focus on crime data and a computer mapping system that is used to identify specific areas of the city that require more policing. 

That approach, along with a management style that placed considerable authority in the hands of his field commanders, has produced results: Crime rates have fallen steadily each year since Bratton’s takeover.

In a Los Angeles Times poll earlier this year, respondents expressed strong support for both the department and its chief. Almost eight in 10 registered voters said they either "strongly approve" or "somewhat approve" of police performance today.

It remains to be seen whether the changes made over the last 6 1/2 years have taken deep enough root to outlast the man who oversaw them. In recent interviews with The Times, Bratton has said that he believed the department was prepared for his departure. "If I left tomorrow," he said in December, "this would continue after I'm gone."

Bratton has long brushed aside frequent rumors about him leaving the LAPD for other jobs. British tabloids have often breathlessly announced he was a front-runner to take over Scotland Yard. And during the recent presidential campaign, he was seen as a strong candidate for a top federal law enforcement job, such as at the Department of Homeland Security. When asked by The Times last month whether his decision to place his Los Feliz home on the market was a portent of some brewing decision to leave, he said he had no such plans.

Regardless, the termination of the consent decree last month seemed to signal a major turning point for Bratton and his outlook on his tenure at the LAPD. With the department now free of what he believed was the heavy stigma of federal oversight, there appeared to be little new for Bratton to focus his energies on.

"I never want to go and just maintain something," he said in an interview late last year. "I want to be able to fix something."

-- Joel Rubin

Update: Bratton plans to stay at LAPD until end of October

Timeline: William Bratton and the LAPD

Bratton lists his Los Feliz home at $1,875,000

Photo credits: Top, Al Seib / Los Angeles Times; bottom,  Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[ndirish]

One of the best chiefs along with Gates, too bad he is leaving. People respected him even criminals which is always good. Hopefully whoever takes over is a hard worker just like Bratton.

[PAUL OLIVAS]

Who's next?

[kristin]

In his short tenure, Bratton has proved himself to be one of the finest chiefs the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD have ever seen.

[notagain]

Gates was a worthless Chief. It's amazing that you could even reference the two in the same sentence. Gates was no Bratton. Gates was no Willie Williams. Gates was at the core of what was wrong with the department.

[Joel]

After getting fired by Guiliani for showboating (stealing Rudy's time in the limelight) and before coming to LA Bratton worked for a Boston-based security firm run by his friend Robert Johnson (I think). He wasn't well known for being much of a rain maker there.

[Jonathan]

I am really disappointed to hear this. I was listening to Chief Bratton the other day on the radio and was impressed by his vision and commitment to the 'depaaartment'...but this is the kind of move that is both a surprise and an irritation. Not a cool move Chief. Not a cool move.

[Carol]

Who's next indeed? Bratton has been the best chief LAPD has ever had. He brought the department into the 21st Century.

People will pick him apart, focus on his flaws, but the city and his successor need to examine carefully what he did right. How has he brought crime down? How can the city build on and improve his programs?

[MTM]

Do you think he is going to fix the Xe (formerly Blackwater) in the wake of the murder scandal? If anyone could fix it, it's Bratton.

[John]

Wow....William Bratton is the sole reason why I felt safe living in Los Angeles. Its incredible how the crime rate steadily decreased since he took over as Chief in '02. He cleaned the streets of New York City prior to his tenure in Los Angeles and definitely put his mark as being one of the best police Chiefs in Los Angeles history.

[Nathan]

Huge bummer. Brought integrity, effectiveness and respectability to LAPD.

We need someone good to follow him up, especially with 40,000 ex-cons coming to a neighborhood near you.

[m]

Guess that story awhile back, about him selling his house, wasn't just about him not wanting his swimming pool anymore...

[Steve]

Good riddance. I hope Bratton leaves the state and takes S.O. 40 with him. Who can honestly say the city is safer now than it was when he took over. Darryl Gates and others have written on how the stats Bratton regurgitates are largely bogus.

[DonJMac]

WONDERLUL,AFTER ALL , THE CRIME IN LOS ANGELES IS LOWER IN 2009 THAN IT WAS IN 1956? WE DON'T NEED YOU NO MORE,,, MR BRATTON YOU ARE DISMISSED NOW,,GOOD LUCK IN BOSTON

[Darrin]

Wonder if they'll bring back Willie from Philly??

[steinerla]

Villaragosa better not mess this up with some false political appointment...

[barf]

maybe the next guy will revoke special order 40, and enforce the law! nah, mayor photo-op will fix that........

[phoenixandrew]

ndirish, what drugs have you been taking? How dare you put Darryl Gates in the same boat with William Bratton. Gates was a disaster as LAPD chief. He made the entire police force Nazi commandoes, the police under Gates treated the public with rudeness and contempt, the police were very racist engaging in brutality against black and Hispanic people and Gates planted the seeds that led to the Rodney King beating and the riot that followed when the cops who beat King were acquitted.

William Bratton cleaned up the filth that was put there by Gates. He will be missed.

[jill]

Horrible news for Los Angeles! But with the way the City Council lately has been harassing him, on a campaign to "tear his ego down to size" in the words of new public safety chair Greig Smith, i was afraid this day would come sooner or later.

Add to Smith, Dennis Zine who's tried to impose his own "Zine's motion" on LAPD and who bashed him on rightwing talk radio, and former chef Parks dubbed "Bitter Bernie" for resenting Bratton's success unlike when he was Chief, and the loss of his strongest supporter Jack Weiss, he's had too much grief and lack of support.

The LAPD is being denied the extra 1000 cops it was promised for the tripled trash fee hikes and Phone Tax S, by the same trio plus Bill Rosendahl forming a majority on budget committee. After they got the Chief to "sell" these taxes on tv, he can't be happy about that. He's said he needs a minimum of 10,000 cops to stop shuffling them around the city, ideally 12,000, but the new council has been fighting him and the mayor on that.

While Smith just thinks he scored a "victory" in wresting the movie cop uniform issue away from the Chief, he and the others have lost us the best Chief we've ever had, and are forcing a new hunt for Chief that will ONLY please them. And the politically ambitious new head of Police Protective League, Zine's and Trutanich's friend Paul Weber, who has been openly seeking to replace Bratton with another rightwinger. I hope none of THEM select the new Chief!

[Joe]

He always called Los Angeles "this city" instead of "our city".

[Very simple]

That's too bad. I thought Bratton was an excellent leader for LAPD, and I really liked his no-BS attitude

[mtrjoc]

Fantastic. Now, if the Mayor and City Council will allow it, we can get a Chief who is really a LAPD trained and seasoned leader by internally appointing after Civil Service testing. LAPD does not need outsiders.

[seemore glass]

After 7 years, does he qualify for California taxpayer funded retirement payments?

[Pam]

What a disappointment. He's such a good chief. It's hard not to feel betrayed by his departure, but it's his life.

[Joe]

You mean there is a head of a private security firm that is about to be fired?

[TruthTeller]

The inevitable LAPD budget cuts next year & the coming release of tens of thousands of convicts from state prison will with no doubt increase the LA crime rate. Bratton is gettin out while the getting is good.

He is showing his true loyalty is to self only. It is easier to succeed during good times, harder with a shrinking budget and increasing workload. Now all can see what many officers have felt for awhile, that Bratton is narcisstic and self serving.

[Ed]

Great. Now we can go back to having incompetent LAPD chiefs who are chosen based on their race. That's the LA we all know.

[joe zelenis]

well sir, thank you, wish you had kept your word. Note to the mayor promote from within. no more carpet baggers.

[Keith]

Bratton...You're a brat for leaving! LA needs a guy like you,

[Lynne Lewis]

I'm so disappointed. Bratton was the best thing that's happened to Los Angeles in ages. Good Luck to him, but he'll certainly be missed.

[lisa]

Good. Now maybe the next chief will actually have a crime lab that processes evidence and the District Attorney will prosecute some sexual assault cases.

Crime is down nationwide, I don't think Bratton is responsible for that.

[brenda ellis]

released early...but Bll is leaving.

[Fred]

Of course he's stepping down. 43,000 prisoners are about to be released onto the streets of L.A. He's getting the hell out while he's still on top. Can you imagine what's going to happen to the crime stats once those animals are on the streets. Bratton isn't stupid. He wants nothing to do with that nonsense.

[Ron]

Bratton lists his Los Feliz home at $1,875,000

Only a city employee could afford this home!

[joanne]

He really didn't do that much!!!, the gang problem is worse, and so is crime. Let;s NOMINATE A WOMEN, HOW ABOUT CHIEF SHARON PAPA

[gm]

I don't really like the cops, but I really liked him. Was straight up , no bs, and lets face it, brought crime way down.

[Beach Diva]

Chief Bratton was one of the first to focus on prevention and early intervention with at-risk kids and young adults, as a means of reducing crime in our community - as opposed to focusing purely on suppression. His relationships with community based organizations provided many opportunities for youth to be involved in constructive activities, rather than falling prey to the criminal element that was pervasive in their communities. His effective use of crime and resource data helped to determine the best methods of police deployment in our city. And he was the first to pilot a wrap-around re-entry program (called HAS - Honor and Strength) for incarcerated folks that are re-entering society so that crime and recidivism rates for released prisoners will drop. He is the only police chief that understood the public health model of violence prevention. His methodology worked - during a time of economic crisis when crime usually rises, our homicide rates have been significantly decreased. He was a great asset to our city and he will be very missed.

[Mr. Cynic]

wow, can't believe how much media hype can build support for one individual...

Bratton was a horrible person! He's done so much BS and said so much BS... I don't understand how you all can swallow the tripe in this article...

[Chico]

First Ariza's gone and now this? Say it ain't so, Willy ...

[El Guapo]

He's an administrator. Please, a nearly $2 million home for sitting behind an LAPD desk? We don't even need a chief of police. Maybe a firing squad and new laws. But not a chief. Too many overpaid managers who do little in that company...LAPD.

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

Is Baca going with him?

[Paul]

Sad to see him go, I think he did an excellent job. I remember when he first started, I hoped he would help the city and he did.

He really fought hard against our gang problem. I hope whoever takes over continues his progress.

Bernard Parks didn't do a very good job.

[lets do this]

When does the pandering for a Latino police chief begin?

[George]

Ding dong the witch is dead. Oh, happy days!!!

[Steve]

Truly one of LA's most undervalued leader's.

I just hope we get someone as close to Bratton as possible.

Sad day for the LA community at large.

And probably a sigh of relief to gang members.

Thank you Bratton for all you help over the years, it has been greatly appreciated.

[Prescott Bush]

Good luck to this Guy.

Let not him ruin this State.
He would make a terrible mayor or governor.
Lacking understanding of budget. I need more police officers, but knowing who is paying for this is not a person who can lead. There is a difference in leadership and management. He will great at his new job, but really is not a person who has leadership traits.

[Janet]

Leadership is required to run a state or a city.

This dude doesn't have leadership abilities

[Hio]

Does he need help in packing his bag?

[Jack]

Thanks to the Police Union and politicians Los Angeles is losing the best chief in the nation. Look at all he has accomplished but who could blame him the way he has been disrespected and treated. According to the Times Poll his numbers are in the hight percentages. I think there will be a huge people revolt over this. Thanks to our lazy, leaderless politicians and a police union who doesn't support their officers or Chief Los Angeles is doomed. Good luck Chief you deserve so much better

[the dude]

they must have a job opening in italy

[jONNY rEb]

Well done, Chief, well done. Thanks for bringing sanity and safety back to our streets and a new respect for the badge. Thanks for your common sense and plain talk and your stand against knuckleheads-both in the streets and City Hall-were appreciated. You leave large shoes to fill and hopefully they don't screw up what you've achieved.

Good luck!

[JEM]

I hope he does not qualify for taxpayers to pay his pension and retirement for the rest of his life.

[Tom]

That's to bad. Bratton is an excellent Police Chief. and to this guy:

>

What's your problem? Passed over for the job once?

[Tom]

Does the person who posted this have contact info on the people she mentions? I'd like to give them my opinions as well....what a bunch of MORONS.

>

[C. Riney]

I'm not to familiar with his work, but it seems he was pretty good. Plus you haven't heard much about LAPD, but some of these other police departments in L.A. County need a WHOLE NEW STAFF

www.twitter.com/trendfiend

[strlinmoss]

I too believe that with 40,000 criminals about to hit the streets he's getting the hell out of here. welcome to Escape to New York , Los Angeles style. that teen getting killed over the weekend is your signal something is going to go very wrong here and fast!!!Hey Bratton can I hitch a ride with you?

[aaron]

glad he's gone... he never got to the root of the problems, only covered up with a band-aid.

hopefully some of the racial profiling can now stop!

[ecilia]

This is sad he was a good leader with integrity and cleand up the mess left over from Parks. Good luck sir >LA we have a problem!!!

[OBAMAHATER]

next Chief willl be a mexican or black

[unkow]

Does this mean Lee Baca will give up his Post at the L.A.S.D. to take over and lead the L.A.P.D. ? or will he the Unhonarable Tony Vilar chose another high ranking Hispanic Police Chief from another city in the U.S. Or A women to lead the L.A. Police Department? Time will tell Folks

[lamedicguy]

I believe the two best candidates for the job would be Asst. Chief James McDonnell (Bratton's Chief of Staff) or Asst. Chief Sharon Papa. Chief Papa was the former Chief of Police for the Transit Police before it was merged with the LAPD so she has executive experience. The mayor would improve his image if he picked a woman. Another candidate I believe would do an excellent job is Deputy Chief Michel Moore who is the San Fernando Bureau Commander. I believe the new chief should come from the ranks. It's an embarrassment for the LAPD to go outside the department to find a chief when you have a department of 9,600 people.

[La Voz de Aztlan]

LA VOZ DE AZTLAN EDITORIAL
Los Angeles, Alta California
August 13, 2009

Los Angeles should appoint
its first Latino police chief

The USA now has its first Black president and the US Supreme Court has its first Latina associate justice but, incredibly, the Los Angeles Police Department after 54 consecutive police chiefs since 1869, has never had a police chief of Mexican or Latino descent. The LAPD which serves the second largest city population of Mexican descent, second only to Mexico City, has historically had a deeply entrenched White command structure.

Only recently has the LAPD had two Black police chiefs. The first was Willie L. Williams who served from 1992 to1997 as the 50th police chief. Willie Williams was appointed as a consequences of the racist LAPD beating of Black motorist Rodney King which resulted in the costly city riots of 1992. The second Black police chief was Bernard C. Parks who served from 1997 to 2002. All the 52 other LAPD chiefs have been White, many with a reputation of being extremely corrupt and some repugnantly racist.

Today, with the resignation of Police Chief William J. Bratton, who was appointed by former Mayor James K. Hahn, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has the opportunity to reverse many decades of discrimination and institutional racism within the LAPD. Antonio Villaraigosa is in fact the first mayor of Mexican descent of "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciúncula" since after the Mexican-American War. Will the mayor make history? What historical legacy will Antonio Villaraigosa leave in Los Angeles?

There are today many extremely professional, qualified and respected Latino officers in the LAPD who have been bypassed by a discriminatory and biased personnel promotion system. These officers have prevailed in spite of the well known "White racist police culture" that still exists within the LAPD. One of these officers is Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz.

Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz recently replaced the racist Deputy Chief Cayler Carter Jr, who was demoted in a major shake-up of his command staff after a May Day police melee at MacArthur Park. Carter was the highest ranking officer at MacArthur Park and led a vicious racist attack on Latino news reporters, women and children during an immigration rights rally. The city, because of the beatings, recently agreed to pay more than $30 million to settle lawsuits alleging LAPD misconduct.

In contrast, Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz handled subsequent immigration rights marches with great expertise which won the respect of Spanish speaking Los Angeles. Los Angeles needs this type of police leadership. We do not need any more destructive riots caused many times by racist police brutality.

The Los Angeles Personnel Department will formally begin the selection process for police chief next week. The department will be presenting at least six candidates to the Board of Police Commissioners, which will narrow the list to three candidates and send them to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in ranked order. Mayor Villaraigosa's choice will then be presented to the City Council for confirmation.

Call or write to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Tell him it is time to appoint a Latino police chief for the city of Los Angeles.

[Dalton Priddy]

Thanks for turning L.A. into a third world gang infested state Chief Bratton.
Your job was to protect and serve. You ordered the tax paying police force to disobey State and Federal laws by not enforcing 'Special Order 40". Your a disgrace to every decent tax payer who has lost a job, taxed out, scared to walk the streets, and all those who have spent hundreds of millions of hard earned money repainting the graffiti and acid etching glass windows damaged by the gangs and thugs you where supposed to get off the streets. I will not miss you one bit.