COMMUNITY BASED POLICE MEETING

March 15, 2007

The purposes of this meeting were to introduce our new Senior Lead Officer, Drake Madison, to the community and to give community members an opportunity to familiarize Office Madison with concerns we have in area 14A49.
Officer Madison feels he is very familiar with the community, as he has spent over 8 years in Pacific Division, primarily on patrol, although last year he was a training officer. He feels he understands the problem of calling for help, getting the situation solved temporarily and then having the problem recur with a different officer responding with help. He said he is “fresh on patrol” and excited about his new position. He answered questions and took notes until there were no more comments from the community.
The majority of the meeting was concerned with graffiti, which has escalated over the past few weeks, particularly at the intersection of Braddock and Inglewood. Officer Madison asked that people call him on his cell phone to alert him as to the graffiti so that he can assess its meaning. People were also asked to photograph the graffiti and send it to the gang unit. He feels that the graffiti on Braddock has been taken care of, but it will be an ongoing problem. Officer Madison’s cell phone number is 310-622-3972 and email is 33997@LAPD.LACITY.ORG.
One community member suggested cleaning up the graffiti yourself, but be accompanied by 2 or 3 other persons. Another member felt this is not a good idea as he had been confronted by persons who didn’t want their graffiti disturbed. If you see graffiti, call 311, the gang unit at Pacific Division, Officer Madison and/or Pacific Graffiti Systems at 310-204-2749.
Some persons were concerned about commercial vehicles being parked on residential streets. Unless they are over 20 feet in length, they can park overnight but can’t have a commercial name on the vehicle.
Produce trucks have been a problem, with one individual reporting 8 different produce trucks on her block. Apparently the persons operating the trucks are also selling tobacco and aerosol guns to children, as well as meat and dairy products.
Nicole Velasquez, Field Deputy for Councilperson Rosendahl, reported she has contacted the city regarding lengthening the left turn light southbound on Centinela to the eastbound 90. She also said that the last third of the street lights on Centinela should be on by the end of the week.
Community members are warned not to let DISH/DIRECTV persons into their homes/yard unless that company has been called about workers being present there. Some homeowners have let persons wearing what appeared to be a DISH/DIRECTV repair person into their home/yard, only to be robbed, as these “repair persons” were not employed by the satellite companies at all.
A major concern was expressed by persons living on Juniette east of Inglewood. Last Fourth of July that area was inundated by fireworks being shot into the air, in people’s back yards, etc. When the police were called, the fireworks abated for a while and then the individuals shooting the fireworks began to use the fireworks as projectiles aimed at the homeowners, their homes, property, yards, etc. The homeowners on Juniette felt very threatened and fearful. Officer Madison stressed the massive numbers of calls the division receives on that day but stated that if it recurs, the persons calling for help need to be clear that this is not just fireworks, but persons aiming projectiles with intent. That would make this call a much higher priority.