COUNCIL BACKS BLENDING SECURITY.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer The Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. on Tuesday approved a long-sought
study on consolidating security officers from five different agencies
while keeping them separate from the Police Department.
On a 14-0 vote, the council said it wanted to look at ways to create an Office of Public Safety within the General Services Department to oversee the activities of some 280 security officers. ``We have been talking about doing something like this for years and it's something that just makes sense,'' said Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski Cindy Miscikowski represented the 11th District on the Los Angeles City Council for two full terms from 1997 through 2005. Previously, she was an aide to Councilman Marvin Braude and the Executive Director of the Skitball Cultural Center in its beginning stages. , chairwoman of the council's Public Safety Committee. Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. , whose Audit Committee also recommended creation of the agency, said it would save an estimated $300,000 to $700,000 a year and help make government more efficient. ``Consolidating these officers will create a better-trained force,'' Greuel said. ``Once this goes through, we can have a security officer available to respond seven days a week, 24 hours a day.'' Security officers from the Recreation and Parks, Libraries, Zoo, Convention Center and General Services departments would be included in the new agency, which could be formed in six months. Some park rangers A park ranger is a person charged with protecting and preserving protected parklands, forests (then called a forest ranger), wilderness areas, as well as other natural resources and protected cultural resources. , who previously opposed the proposal, would be kept in a special position to allow them to continue their present non-security duties. Councilman Bernard Ber·nard , Claude 1813-1878. French physiologist noted for his study of the digestive and nervous systems. Parks, the former chief of the LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. , sounded a cautionary note, however. ``When we do this, we have to look at all the other implications and the issue of city liability,'' Parks said. ``We need to develop a strategy of who will respond and where and which city agency will be liable.'' Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com |
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