OK, this isn't so much of an open letter as it is an open request. Please read the comments on this post. And please take a look at this site. Search for "LAFD" on this site and see the countless other posts praising them for their openess and communication. Do you see how fantastic the LAFD is? Do you see how much people love them because of this? A very little bit of openness goes a very, very long way. Why can't the LAPD and LASD do something like this? Have a blog where there is someone who will talk and answer questions. Follow a few local blogs and discuss issues when they come up.
I'm wondering if anyone in those departments even reads this stuff or knows what is going on with it. In the almost 3 years we've been running blogging.la we've never heard from anyone at the LASD or LAPD directly. City Council? Check. Mayors office? Check. LAFD? Obviously check. But no law enforcement at all. Which is disappointing, because there's a major disconnect between the public and Law Enforment and I'd venture to say they need this more than anyone.
In fact, I'm going take this a bit further and ask all the LAFD, City Council and Mayors office people who read this site to pass this post on to any and every contact you have at the LAPD or LASD. I'm volunteering my time and any help I can offer to get you guys set up with blogs. I'll take time off, wave my consulting fee and come in and explain why they are important and show you how to do it. And I won't even beg for a CCW while I'm there.
Really, I'm completely serious about this. What do you have to lose?
Thanks for the local support on this one LA Voice, LAist, and West LA Online. Here's hoping someone listens.
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- LAFD $2.7 Million settlement up for vote again today
- Ditto - Props to LA
- Metroblogging Best Of
- LAPD Blog Forthcoming