Working with Government, Military and Police

Leadership and Service

Background: John’s skills as a manager and leader were forged on the mean streets of L.A. As a young supervisor and manager in the Los Angeles Police Department, he was called upon to find more effective and peaceful ways of stopping riots and preventing wild and emotional demonstrations from becoming riots. The task force he led developed numerous innovative procedures, management systems and strategies that were adopted as the model plan by the International Association of Chief's of Police (IACP). These methods are still widely used today

The best known of these innovations were the SWAT Team concept and the establishment of the first peer-counseling program in a police agency. In addition, John was frequently called upon to teach and conduct workshops on conflict resolution, team building and management of transitions. As a Captain, he established several records for reducing complaints from the public by 52 percent and for crime decreases of over 11 percent in just one year.

A Pioneer in First Responders Management and Collaboration During Disasters

As a member of the LAPD, John:

• Was instrumental in developing the first procedures manuals for the LAPD Emergency Control Center and Mobile Command Posts. He personally wrote the Department’s Mobilization Plan for Unusual Occurrences, which was adopted by the IACP as the model plan for police agencies around the world.
  
  
• Led a handpicked team of young supervisors in developing the Department’s Tactical Manual, which is still in use today. His team field-tested new systems and procedures during the chaos of actual riots, demonstrations and earthquakes.
  
  
• Led this team in creating field and command post training exercises (similar to military war games) in order to test and polish the new programs. These included actual multi-agency response by first responders, including city, county, state and federal law enforcement, fire and military agencies. This led to enactment of common emergency radio frequencies known as CLEMARS (California Mutual Aid Radio Systems) and the California Mutual Aid Pact, which has been since replicated in several states.
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  Developed and implemented procedures to protect police stations, government buildings, businesses and residences from sniper attacks, fire bombings and rock throwing.

As a result of John’s leadership, the LAPD’S success with preparedness and reduction of violent incidents became known internationally. John was interviewed by representatives from several countries that were also experiencing riots, massive demonstrations and acts of terrorism, including France, Japan, India and Greece.

A Track Record of Results

In his first year as an LAPD division commander (Hollywood Division), John led his teams to a 52 percent reduction in complaints from the public and an 11 percent decrease in crime. In addition, out-of-policy shootings were reduced 66 percent, accidental shootings were reduced 40 percent, crime report errors declined by 78 percent, and injuries on duty and sick time were reduced by 13 percent.

In 1975, the Chief of Police asked John to develop a plan for team policing. After the plan was approved, the trial run lasted for two quarters, reducing crime and proving highly popular with officers and the public.

As a commander, John conducted an investigation to determine how to reduce the costs for 60,000 arrests a year in downtown skid row, most of which were due to public drug or alcohol intoxication. His findings resulted in a major series of feature articles with photographs of life on skid row. Soon after, John became chairman of the Advisory Board for United Way’s detoxification centers and programs for the homeless, where he was instrumental in helping to raise nearly $30 million for the establishment of the Weingart Center, the first multi-purpose services center for skid row inhabitants.

In 1980, the Chief of Police asked John to conduct an investigation on how the LAPD could improve on management practices. John personally interviewed all 73 of the department’s top-level executives, including the Chief of Police, and submitted a 30-page report on his findings. Several of the recommendations were successfully implemented, including the first peer-counseling program in any major police department. That program has since been duplicated by many police agencies internationally.

A Leader in Security, Demonstrations and Crowd Control

John’s expertise in security, demonstrations and crowd control has been recognized at the local and national level.

• While with the LAPD, John planned and/or managed protection and security in Los Angeles for the President of the United States on seven different occasions. In addition, he oversaw security for numerous visits by foreign dignitaries and heads of state, as well as for “loveins” and rock festivals that often led to violence. The Secret Service commented that they had never seen better preparations for protecting the president during massive demonstrations.
  
  
• In 1969, John worked in Washington, D.C. for three months as a staff member of the President’s Commission on Campus Unrest. He was the only full-time police staff member selected. After his report on the investigation of the Kent State shooting deaths of students by National Guardsmen, he was promoted to serve as an editor of the Commission’s report to the President of the United States
  
  
• In 1972, John was selected by U.S. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst to serve as a consultant to national, state and local government leaders and police and military leaders responsible for planning and managing security for the Democratic and Republican National Political Conventions in Miami Beach. One of only two police officials chosen as consultants for that challenge, John’s mission was to support professional protection of dignitaries and delegates, prevent the involvement of the military or National Guard, prevent demonstrations from becoming riots, and conduct training programs for Florida and federal law enforcement and security officials. During demonstrations at both conventions, John served as an on-the- spot consultant to the field commander. The National Guard or military did not have to be called in, and there were no riots.

During his career with the LAPD, John graduated from Pepperdine University with a Masters degree in Urban Management in the school of Public Administration. This was a federally funded two-year course that focused on the psychological aspects of riots and demonstrations. He also completed a seven-day training program on terrorism and riot control for senior police and military officers, conducted by the Department of Defense at Fort Gordon Georgia, and has completed similar programs with MIT, CIT and the terrorism unit of The Rand Corporation, as well as a graduate course at USC on Disaster Control Administration.

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