Hundreds of C-PAB members as well as uniformed LAPD officers from across the city gathered at Occidental College in Eagle Rock March 31, 2007, for the Annual C-PAB Summit. The members were welcomed by, John Mack, President of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, Chief William J. Bratton, and Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger. The half-day session was chaired by Commander Kirk J. Albanese, Assistant to the Director, Office of Operations.
John Mack warmed up the crowd by declaring "We are delighted we have people like yourselves who care so deeply about your community."
Chief Bratton affirmed, "Make no mistake, this is a community policing Department." Crime has gone down in L.A. in each of the last five years, he said. "We are now the second safest of the 20 largest cities, the best since the 1950s." The main exception to the trend has been gang crime. "There were 7,000 reported incidents of gang crime last year, which account for almost 60% of our murders." He asked, "Do any of you know a gang member who is not a high school dropout? Who is not semi-illiterate? Who cannot take advantage of an opportunity even if it is presented?"
He told the community members in the audience that he wanted to devote more attention C-PAB in the future. "We will convene a C-PAB meeting this summer to present the state of the department, a full-day meeting."
Chief Paysinger in his greetings said that every third month C-PAB representatives would be invited to the citywide Compstat meetings where crime trends and strategies are analyzed.
Mr. Leslie Evans
C-PAB Summit Planning Committee Member
and Southwest C-PAB Co-Chair
