LA police chief

Check out Sunday's NY Times. There's an interesting article ref: LA's chief who hailed from NYPD and the hell he's giving city council, doing it his way. Result: crime rate dropped 25%.

In prior years, LA wanted to take the politics out of the police department. Therefore, the chief was not an "at will employee." So one he/she was hired, it was very, very difficult to have them removed. I know that Darryl Gates was in a similar circumstance over a decade ago. Many people wanted him out, but they didn't have the ability. Unless our department changes to this type of style of police structure we are not likely to experience what they are experiencing out west. It doesn't not seem likely that our political figures would like to relinquish this power. Currently, everyone Major and above is an "at will" employee and can be removed without cause. This (I can only imagine as I am not a Major or above) most likely creates stress upon them to do as they are asked or risk being terminated.

Just a thought.