Public Safety and Homeland Security
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Protecting Against Disaster
Created the Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety
Sending a clear signal that crime, gang and security issues would take center stage in his new administration; Mayor Villaraigosa created the Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety within a month of his inauguration. He appointed a former Assistant U.S. Attorney to oversee the unit. The Mayor also meets regularly with Chief Bratton to ensure that law enforcement has the resources it needs to keep Los Angeles safe.
Emergency Preparedness
In July 2000, the Emergency Preparedness Department was established to improve the
direction and control of local emergency preparations, response and recovery
activities and to ensure that the needs of all the citizens of Los Angeles are met in
the event of a local emergency. In September 2007, Mayor Villaraigosa appointed LAFD veteran James Featherstone as general manager. In January 2008, the department was renamed the Emergency Management Division with a mission that states in part, "Through comprehensive coordination and citywide awareness, education and training, the Emergency Management Department will ensure that all of Los Angeles is a prepared Los Angeles."
Leadership at LAFD
In January 2007, Mayor Villaraigosa initiated a nationwide search for a new chief of
the Los Angeles Fire Department. That search led him to highly respected Assistant
Chief Douglas Barry. On September 17, 2007, Chief Barry was selected to lead the
Department into a new era. He has issued a vision statement, met with hundreds of
line-level firefighters, reorganized top management, and worked with the fire
commission and employee organizations to stress a commitment to professionalism,
excellence in service, and accountability.
LAFD Professional Standards Division (PSD)
A top priority for both the Mayor and Chief Barry is to establish a Professional Standards Division that will investigate both internal and external complaints against department employees in an effort to increase professionalism and decrease the City’s liability claims and costs. This new division will be comprised of specially trained
personnel that will bring a new level of professionalism to complaint investigations
and confidence in the process to those that file or are a subject of a complaint. The establishment of a PSD demonstrates the Mayor's and Chief Barry's commitment to the
concepts of fairness and consistency through vigorous investigations of employee
misconduct. It is the hope of the Mayor and Chief Barry that the success of the PSD
will encourage a more diverse pool of candidates to emerge and continue on this path
of change
Fiscal Management Unit
The Mayor's Fiscal Management Unit is responsible for securing and managing over $200
million of State and Federal grants that support homeland security and criminal
justice programs. Many of the grants are developed in collaboration with the Mayor's
Office, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, the Emergency
Management Department, the City Attorney's Office, the District Attorney's Office, the U.S. Attorney's office and various community-based organizations.