Where We Are – Hermosa Beach Police Department Highlight Progress In 2020 – Patch.com

December 31, 2020

WHERE WE ARE: HERMOSA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT

HIGHLIGHTS PROGRESS IN 2020

HERMOSA BEACH, CA In the midst of a very challenging year, the Hermosa Beach Police Department continued to make progress under new leadership by increasing officer recruiting, expanding its transparency and accountability to the public and demonstrating continued professionalism by achieving its fourth national accreditation.

In January 2020, Interim Chief Mike McCrary was asked to lead the HBPD during a search for a fulltime chief of police. In April, the City welcomed Paul LeBaron as its new police chief. Under his leadership, the department has continued to provide critical public safety services during the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously working with local, state and national leaders to stay in the forefront of police reform efforts with increased transparency and partnership with the community.

The department hired seven new officers in 2020. As part of its improvements in the onboarding process, the department added a new component to orientation week, creating a family day during which the employee's family members visited the police station, met department members and learned about the Counseling Team International program that is available for employees and their families.

In its ongoing recruitment efforts, the department plans to send five new recruits to the Police Academy in February 2021, and it is continuously accepting applications in its search for highly qualified personnel.

The department has created a new "Transparency" page on the City website to provide easy access to public information such as department policies, crime statistics and annual data regarding use of force incidents. Law enforcement's use of force was a heightened topic of discussion at the local and the national level this year. These conversations led to recommendations for police reform and close review of law enforcement policies and practices, something that HBPD has done for years as part of its accreditation program.

This year, the department earned its fourth accreditation award from the national Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), which is considered the "gold standard" in public safety. Law enforcement's major executive associations created CALEA in 1979 as a credentialing authority, and CALEA says that it accredits "public safety agencies that have demonstrated compliance with CALEA Standards and have been awarded CALEA Accreditation by the Commission."

"CALEA accreditation is the highest recognition of law enforcement excellence, and we are pleased the HBPD has received CALEA accreditation for the fourth time since 2010," said Chief LeBaron. "Reaccreditation is an ongoing process that requires our continued attention and reviews to ensure the department continues to meet the Commission's state-of-the-art standards for public safety."

To further provide residents and visitors first-class service, the department has prepared a document titled "Where We Are," which highlights this year's progress, including recruitment efforts. It also provides details on important policy updates such as those related to use of force and vehicle pursuits. The accomplishments highlighted in "Where We Are" supports the "My Brother's Keeper Mayor's Pledge" signed by former Mayor Mary Campbell in 2020. The pledge was signed by mayors across the country and commits to review and reform use of force policies, redefine public safety and combat systemic racism within law enforcement.

"We enter the new year with a strong commitment to continue serving the community while meeting the highest standards and ensuring accountability and transparency to the public," said Chief LeBaron. "We are very proud of these accomplishments, which are a credit to the men and women at all levels who continuously demonstrate their commitment to the community and the public that we serve."

This press release was produced by the City of Hermosa Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.

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Where We Are - Hermosa Beach Police Department Highlight Progress In 2020 - Patch.com