 Appointed the 54th Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department by Mayor James Hahn in October 2002, William J. Bratton oversees the operations of one of the largest major municipal law enforcement agencies in the United States . His responsibilities include the supervision of 9,304 sworn and 3,055 civilian employees. Chief Bratton directs all patrol, investigative and administrative operations and administers an annual budget of $927 million. A strong advocate of transparent community policing that embraces partnership, problem solving and prevention, he initiated a major reengineering of the Los Angeles Police Department, moving towards a decentralized police bureaucracy with stronger area commands that are more responsive to local community needs, and better trained and motivated police officers. Chief Bratton's vision includes a comprehensive and assertive strategy for dramatically reducing crime, disorder, and fear in the largest metropolitan city on the West Coast. Particular emphasis has been placed on gang-related crimes and the culture that creates it.< Chief Bratton joined the Los Angeles Police Department with over thirty-two years of public and private sector law enforcement experience. His policing career began as a police sergeant during his tenure in the United States Army Military Police. He continued with a career in civilian law enforcement, joining the Boston Police Department in 1970, and rising through the ranks to Superintendent of Police, the highest sworn rank, by 1980. A frequent guest lecturer, writer and commentator, he is the co-author of his critically acclaimed Random House autobiography Turnaround. Among his many other honors and awards, Chief Bratton holds the Schroeder Brother's Medal, which is the Boston Police Department's highest award for valor. In his speeches, William Bratton draws on his 30 years of experience successfully fighting crime, terrorism, fear, incompetence and inefficiency. His always timely and wide ranging series of lecture topics, delivered in a candid and inspirational manner, include: "The New Fear- Terrorism - and What to Do About IT"; "It's Leadership, Plain and Simple"; "Winning the War on Crime"; "Street Smart Re-engineering"; and "Motivating the Troops".
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