LAPD, Councilmembers Clash on Uniforms for Film Officers
Ed Fuentes
An officer in LAPD uniform works the shoot for ABC pilot "Limelight" outside 650 S. Spring in March.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — A plan to strip retired police officers of the right to wear their LAPD uniforms while working on film shoots met with severe criticism from several members of the Los Angeles City Council this morning.
New Councilman Paul Koretz, chair of the Public Safety committee, called the proposal a "lose-lose at every level for the city." He said it would exacerbate runaway production and result in lost revenue.
The plan by LAPD Chief William Bratton would replace the uniforms that retired officers currently wear with a different one featuring a white shirt and reflective vest.
Presenting the plan this morning in response to a motion by Councilmembers Tom LaBonge and Greig Smith, Assistant LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell told the Public Safety committee this morning that the department has "no interest in eliminating the ability of retired officers to work film locations," but simply wants to ensure that when the public sees someone wearing an LAPD uniform, that person is in fact an LAPD officer.
Smith did not buy that the plan was not about replacing the retired officers with those on active duty. "I can hire a guy in uniform or a guy not in uniform, what am I going to do?," he asked rhetorically.
The retired officers have been a point of complaint in comments on blogdowntown. Commenters have written about inaction in the case of permit violations and unfriendly behavior toward residents.
A provision inserted into the city's Municipal Code in the 1980s allows the retired officers to wear the LAPD uniform while working at film shoots, but only at the discretion of the Chief of Police. Bratton's plan, set to go into effect on September 20, does not require approval by the Board of Police Commissioners or the City Council.
Those working in the film industry decried the proposed change during public comment, saying that the officers would lose their authority if unable to wear the official LAPD uniform and that filming would be driven from Los Angeles.
Assistant City Attorney Carlos de la Guerra advised the committee that the city's current practice may not even be legal. He said that it may be against California Penal Code Section 538D to allow the officers to wear the LAPD uniform when they only have traffic- and crowd-control duties and are not peace officers.
Urban Bruin on July 27, 2009, at 05:01PM – #1
"...saying that the officers would lose their authority if unable to wear the official LAPD uniform..." Surprise, they DON'T have any AUTHORITY, that's the point.
A retired cop is no longer a cop but a private citizen. Unless they are still an active police reservist they are just like eveyone else; more specifically, they are the same as a bonded, armed mall cop!
bromike666 on July 27, 2009, at 05:07PM – #2
Do they have to turn in the mustache along with the uniform?
Benjamin Pezzillo on July 27, 2009, at 05:52PM – #3
It would be an improvement for the community to have active officers doing traffic control and film permit monitoring Downtown.
For once, the public would have someone they could go to on a location production that has the legal authority to enforce permit and/or the LAMC with respect to the commerical use of private property for filming.
Additionally, production companies would have officers with authority to make their sets safe for their workers.
How is that anything but a "win-win"?
Downtowner on July 28, 2009, at 12:39PM – #4
That uniform is supposed mean something. It's about who you work for. If your pay is coming from a film company, you are a security guard. Fooling people into thinking that you are a sworn officer is dishonest and I would think illegal.
Oscar on July 28, 2009, at 06:11PM – #5
Can't wait for this to happen!!!
BTW right now is the time, to actually stop or pull your car over everytime they have unused parking spaces or closed streets or they're blocking the entrance to your apartment or they're making loud noises in the middle of the night or they close your parking lot or they tow your car to actually walk up to one of these guys who have just stood troughout the years and watch their masters abuse THE PEOPLE and tell them in their face "I can't wait for Bratton to take that ILLEGAL badge out of your chest!!!
And one more thing don't let me findout that Jose Huizar or jan Perry are among those IDIOTS trying to block Bratton because they can say GOODBYE TO MY VOTE THEN(and I DO vote)!!!
loveandhatela on July 28, 2009, at 07:53PM – #6
I totally agree with comments 1 thru 5.
Bad "rent a cop" = No Donut ! :)
Jasmijn on July 29, 2009, at 11:28AM – #7
At first I wanted them to keep their uniforms, but then reading further I found out they DON'T have any authority?! They AREN'T actually cops any more?! Well, then why the heck should they be able to pretend they are? Totally the wrong impression. (Oh, wait, yeah: that's the point.) I understand that the film companies like this and they want to give the impression of having police authority protecting what they do. But they DON'T.
I'm with everyone else. If they're not working cops, they shouldn't be allowed to dress like cops.
Officer Viagra on July 31, 2009, at 03:30PM – #8
L.A. councilman wants retired police to keep looking cop-like when guarding film sets:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/the-los-angeles-city-council-is-being-asked-to-vote-as-early-as-tuesday-on-a-change-that-would-remove-los-angeles-police-chie.html
Larry Linn on August 01, 2009, at 10:40AM – #9
The film copanies are being subidized by the citizen that live and work where they wan to film. They get their permit then violate them. I do not know how many time I have not been allowed to drive doen my street an enter my parking lot because "we are filming here". I have had two of my neighbors trown into police cars, or held at the police station until the filming was over. They were "releaed without charges filed". The retired Rent-a-cops are an insult to the active LAPD. The Rent-a-cops are hired thugs. They do not give a damn about anything excetpt thier paycheck from the film pimps.
celia on August 01, 2009, at 03:03PM – #10
I've seen a uniformed, retired police officer stand idly by while a crew member went off on my loftmate at 4am because we had the nerve to come down to the street to complain that they were in violation of their film permit and they were making too much noise. Let me repeat, a crew member jumped on my loftmate for complaining and the uniformed, retired police officer on the set did absolutely nothing because he said he didn't have the authority to do anything. So what's the uniform and the badge for then?
Heather on August 02, 2009, at 04:16PM – #11
These retired cops are not ACTIVE DUTY LAPD. They don't have police powers, don't report to LAPD, don't get updated LAPD training and are only hired to help with TRAFFIC CONTROL. If you read the media blogs locally the residents agree wtih Chief Bratton that these retired officers need to stop wearing their LAPD uniforms. If a crime is committed on a set they have to dial 911 just like the rest of us. They are not hired to do police work so stop wearing the uniform. They are no longer police officers and are impersonating an LAPD officer which is a misdemanor according to California Penal Code.
tmw on August 04, 2009, at 09:52AM – #12
These movie security officers wearing LAPD uniforms should be active off duty LAPD officers or active off duty LAPD reserve officers (Level 1). The officer would continued to be considered armed private security guards; however, the Department would maintain a little oversight as to their conduct and appearance. Also off duty officers are required to take some sort of action for serious crimes in progress where they would technically become on-duty officers while taking such action.
Active reserve officers are required to volunteer and work a certain amount of hours as a police officer every month which would benefit the City. So if these retired officers want to maintain these easy, decent paying jobs, they should sign-up as a Level-1 Reserve Officer.
Urban Bruin on August 04, 2009, at 12:58PM – #13
My question is would these people "Tom LaBonge, Greig Smith, et al" feel the same way if night club owners also wanted to employ the same retired LAPD officers (in uniform) to work the door or "direct" traffic from their parking lots? I'd think not!
Now they'll join General Services? Why? They're not paid city employees. How much are LaBonge and Smith being paid by this special interest?
BTW - I have a few deadbeat friends who owe me money, can I hire a few retire LAPD “officers” to collect? I could sure use their “AUTHORITY”