Mayor Villaraigosa Statement on Termination of the Federal Consent Decree

MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA
City of Los Angeles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2009

CONTACT
Matt Szabo
213-978-0741

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA STATEMENT ON TERMINATION OF THE FEDERAL CONSENT
DECREE

LOS ANGELES – Today Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued the following
statement in response to U.S. District Court Judge Gary A. Feess’
termination of the federal consent decree forced on the Los Angeles
Police Department in 2001:

“It is truly a new day at the Los Angeles Police Department. The
shackles of a necessary but burdensome federal consent decree have been
broken, but the benefits of reform have already been realized.

“For the first time in my lifetime, residents of our most
crime-plagued neighborhoods view our brave men and women in blue as
partners, not adversaries. That partnership has enabled the most
efficient police force in the nation to reduce crime rates to levels not
seen since the 1950s. And as crime has plummeted, it has sparked a
renaissance of hope in our most historically troubled neighborhoods.

“I want to personally thank and congratulate Chief William Bratton,
the Los Angeles Police Commission, Inspector General Andre Birotte, Jr.,
and each and every one of the nearly 10,000 men and women of the Los
Angeles Police Department for a job well done.”

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