Police chief reveals reforms

DOWNTOWN — Six weeks after taking the helm of a police department jolted by a federal probe into excessive force and a series of civil rights lawsuits, Police Chief Scott LaChasse on Thursday announced a string of reform measures he said would help mend fractured relationships and detect acts of misconduct.

His proposals span the gamut, from hiring a clinical psychologist to assess department dynamics, to strictly monitoring access to confidential records, to opening up the hiring process to outside candidates.

“You can’t say that what’s gone on has been systemic, or has necessarily been condoned, but there are some things based on allegations that don’t look proper,” LaChasse said. “What I’ve found is the overwhelming majority of the people here are good, honest, hard-working professionals, and they are having to pay a high price because of the alleged actions of a few.”

The measures, some of which have already been implemented, include:

 Hiring a psychologist to design survey instruments to determine what caused fragmentation within the department and how best to mend relationships. Police chiefs in Glendale and Pasadena have agreed to assume patrol duties in Burbank if and when the Police Department meets to carry out team-building activities.

 Issuing an interim directive that defines misconduct and ensures sustained allegations are uniformly punished. That would include incorporating a bail schedule similar to that of county sheriffs to guarantee the penalty fits the act. The reform comes amid concerns that rank-and-file officers have been punished more severely than their supervisors.

 Reviewing all uses of force to determine whether additional training is needed.

 Updating the department’s policy manual to ensure it reflects new laws and recent court rulings.

 Mounting a framed copy of the U.S. Constitution in the lobby of the police station and roll call room to reinforce that peace officers are empowered to enforce laws with fundamental fairness, equity and impartiality.

 Appointing an ombudsman to field personnel complaints and act as an intermediary between the department.