Roundtable 17, discussion, 1992-07-06

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Content PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
MEMORANDUM
SUSAN SPIVAK, ESQ.
KEN HEITZ, ESQ.
ALVIN S. MICHAELSON, ESQ.
BRENDA LIGORSKY, LAW CLERK
JULY 6, 1992
SOUTH GATE POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERVIEW
SUMMARY
This interview with Chief Ronald P. George and Captain
Mike Blaska of the City of South Gate, focuses on the role and
resources of the South Gate Police Department during the civil
unrest. The interview covered:
A. The planning activities by the South Gate Police
Department;
B. Reaction during the unrest; and
c. South Gate's relationship with the Los Angeles
Police Department and the Sheriff's Department.
The interview took place July 2, 1992, at 11:20 a.m. at
the South Gate Police Department. The following is a summary of ·
our recollection of this meeting, including our questions and -
comments, together with our mental impressions, conclusions and
opinions, based upon the meeting.
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
MEMORANDUM
SUSAN SPIVAK, ESQ.
KEN HEITZ, ESQ.
ALVIN S. MICHAELSON, ESQ.
BRENDA LIGORSKY, LAW CLERK
JULY 6, 1992
SOUTH GATE POLICE DEPARTMENT INTERVIEW
I. INTRODUCTION
On July 2, 1992, we met with Chief Ronald P. George and
Captain Mike Blaska of the South Gate Police Department. The
meeting lasted from approximately 11:20 a.m. until approximately
12:10 p.m. on that date. We have attached hereto the business
cards of Chief George and Captain Blaska.
As is set forth below, the South Gate Police Department
was able to limit any unrest in their city to minimal damage
without any outside aid.
II. SOUTH GATE DEMOGRAPHICS
A. The City
South Gate is a small city with a total area of 7 1/2
square miles. Its population is approximately 90,000 people, 83%
of which are hispanic. According to Chief George, South Gate
boasts the largest junior high school in the United States.
B. The Police Department
The South Gate Police Department has a total of 96
sworn police officers and a total of 139 full time staff members;
approximately one officer for every thousand residents.
Additionally, the department has 17 reserve officers. The
reserve officers are trained at the regional police academy at
Rio Hondo. These reserves work regularly, and are required to
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
adhere to the same standards as the regular officers. The
department uses its reserves extensively, and gives them many of
the same responsibilities as the regular officers.
In South Gate one-third of their sworn officers started
as reserves. According to the Chief, this is because the city
encourages the reserves to "try out" police work before
committing to it on a full time basis. If the reserve decides to
become a regular officer, they are given hiring preference over
new recruits.
Chief George stated that the South Gate Police
Department has a good reputation because of its small size and
the quality of its training. South Gate rotates its officers so
that they can learn different aspects of policing. According to
the Chief, one of the Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD)
weaknesses is that it is specialized to the point where the
officers can not function outside their own small area of
expertise.
III. MUTUAL ASSISTANCE PACTS
When asked about South Gates's relationship with the
LAPD, Chief George answered that it was almost non-existent.
South Gate borders South Central Los Angeles to the west, but the
Sheriff's Department patrols that area. The Chief emphasized
that the South Gate Police Department has an excellent
relationship with the Sheriff. When asked why this was so, Chief
George pointed to the LAPD's perceived attitude that they are the
best, and that the other police departments could not possibly
measure up. However, he added that the problem may be that the
LAPD intimidates the smaller cities to the point where they are
unwilling to work with them. Additionally, it is difficult to
work with the LAPD's huge bureaucracy. Chief George feels that
the LAPD is too centralized, whereas the Sheriff's Department
takes a more hands-on approach to policing.
This relationship is a sharp contrast to the easy give
and-take which occurs between South Gate and the Sheriff's
Department. The Chief stated that it is simple to call the
Sheriff and ask for help or intelligence. However, he added that
the difference may be the difficulties in dealing with a
monolithic unit and its bureaucracy. It is the Chief's
impression that many LAPD commanders would like to change this
situation, but the department is just too overworked.
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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT
When asked if he would like to work more closely with
the LAPD, the Chief indicated that he would. He thinks the LAPD
has a lot to share which would benefit other police departments,
such as its unique officer safety training program, its field
tactics, and its DARE instruction. Chief George would like to be
able to share information and intelligence with the LAPD, but he
does not feel comfortable calling them.
Captain Blaska added that a closer relationship could
also benefit the LAPD. He stated that the LAPD and the Los
Angeles Fire Department live in a vacuum, and rarely come out to
share. Captain Blaska thinks that the LAPD could benefit from
learning other ways of doing things. The smaller cities
different perspective combined with Los Angeles' programs and
training could strengthen all of the police departments involved.
IV. THE KING VERDICT PREPARATIONS
South Gate has special riot equipment, but its officers
have not had any special riot training for a number of years.
However, the city does have a special team of 17 or 18 men who
are trained in "tactical responses." They learn how to enter
houses without hurting those inside as well as other SWAT
techniques. The special team is mainly used on New Years Eve
because of the problems the police have encountered with people
shooting guns to celebrate.
Chief George monitored the King trial carefully, and
mobilized his men approximately one week prior to the verdict.
He also received some intelligence from the Sheriff's Department
telling them to be prepared. The Chief then formulated a
tentative plan for protecting South Gate. Alameda Street borders
South Central Los Angeles, so the South Gate Police blockaded it
at the Firestone, Southern, and Tweety intersections using both
barricades and people. They also stationed units on the east
side of the city at Garfield and Firestone to protect the stores
there. According to Chief George and Captain Blaska, there were
no looting or fires in South Gate, only some broken windows. The
officers stated that looters drove through the city but did not
try anything.
Over a three-day period beginning Wednesday, April 29,
1992, through May 2, 1992, the South Gate Police Department made
approximately 150 arrests. The majority of these arrests were
for possession of stolen property. However, one man was arrested
with Budweiser beer cans containing gasoline. The Chief stated
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that the majority of the arrestees were South Gate residents who
had gone elsewhere to loot and were returning home.
During the civil disturbances there were no fires in
South Gate itself. However, there was burning on the north and
west sides of the city. Several outside fire departments used
the park in South Gate as their command base. South Gate does
not have its own fire department.
V. FUTURE PLANS
In Chief George's opinion the reason the civil
disturbances had such a small effect on South Gate can be linked
to the good relationship between the police and the rest of the
community. The Chief is extremely proud of the fact that the
city's elementary schools solicited donations to put on a party
in the park to thank the police for the fine job they did during
the unrest. Chief George stated that during the unrest many of
the city's hispanic citizens would give the police a "thumbs up"
as they drove by.
In the wake of the civil unrest, Chief George would
like to buy more equipment for his officers, such as extra
helmets, face shields, and bullet proof vests. He would also
like to initiate some additional riot training for them.
PEOPLE TO CONTACT
Neither officer indicated any person who it might be
helpful to contact, but Captain Blaska suggested that the
Commission look into the role which the media played during the
civil unrest. In his opinion the media may have indirectly
helped to spread the disturbance by continually emphasizing the
lack of police presence at many locations where looting was
occurring.
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