Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

HANCOCK PARK – Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the appointment of Charlie Beck as the city’s 55th chief of police during a press conference held at Goethe House on Tuesday, November 3. Beck’s appointment was preceded by an exhaustive search and several interviews made by the Police Commission and the mayor.

Villaraigosa said that he and the police commission met with Los Angeles civil rights community activists, business, civic and religious leaders and the law enforcement community in their search for a successor to LAPD chief William Bratton who has resigned recently to work with a private security firm based in New York.

Deputy Chief Beck, who was born in Long Beach and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Long Beach, began his law enforcement career with the LAPD 32 years ago. He is expected to be confirmed by the city council next week. He has earned a reputation as progressive police officer and a man of character and integrity. "He’s a police officer who is tough on crime and he’s a leader with deep respect and understanding of the police officers under his command and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve. He is the right man to the LAPD at the right time," Mayor Villaraigosa announced.

As a young officer, Beck rose through the ranks of the LAPD, serving in almost all areas of the city; developing relationships in the community. He has spent most of his career in some of the most challenging areas of Los Angeles. "In each and every case, the areas were better off because of his creative problem-solving approach, and because of his ability to bring diverse groups of people to work together," Villaraigosa said.

Beck is credited for changing the LAPD’s approach to gangs and youth violence with his belief that that gang violence can’t be eradicated by simply locking up every gang member. Beck has underscored the need to utilize a comprehensive approach that includes tough enforcement and getting at the root causes that drive youths to gangs. Beck reiterated that these approaches to gangs and gang violence will continue during his watch. Villaraigosa described Beck as "a conservative when it comes to criminals and a progressive in his policing."

The Mayor revealed that he had talked to many Angelenos regarding the appointment of the next LAPD chief and asked them what they would like to see in the next chief. "One wise person said to me, ‘choose the man who could have reached you when you were seventeen; choose the man who you think can change the course of a young person’s life,’" the Mayor revealed. "Charlie Beck is that man."