100 West First Street, Suite 250
Los Angeles, California 90012
213-486-6000
The Community Relationship Division (CRD) was formally established in August of 2015 under the leadership of Captain Ruby Flores. CRD consolidated many community outreach and community policing functions that existed throughout the Department. The LAPD established a formal community outreach program in 1965 in the aftermath of the Watts riots. Community Relationship Division builds upon these early efforts.
The CRD strives to build and maintain relationships and trust between the Department and the diverse communities in Los Angeles while leveraging best practices in community outreach and community policing; and cutting-edge digital media technologies.
History of CRD
The Los Angeles Police Department Community Relationship Division was established in August 2015. The division combined many of the pre-existing community outreach and social media engagement programs within the Department to include the Community Relations Section, the Community Policing Unit and the Digital Media Unit.
Chief Charlie Beck and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti made it a priority to consolidate and prioritize community engagement and relationship-based policing in the aftermath of events that occurred nationwide in response to what occurred in Ferguson, Missouri and in New York City in late 2014. The Chief and Mayor understood the critical role that effective community engagement plays in building and maintaining trust between the LAPD and the community and directed the Department to form a new division based on this mandate.
Special Order 33; December 5, 1963:
On December 5, 1963, the LAPD under the leadership of then Chief William H. Parker, officially formalized the LAPD Community Relations Policy in Special Order 33.
Excerpt from Special Order 33:
“The success of a police force in the performance of its duties is largely measured by the degree of support and cooperation it receives from the people it serves. It is of paramount importance therefore, to secure for this Department the confidence, respect, and approbation of the public.”
Watts Riots (1965) and a formal community outreach program:
The LAPD formalized its community outreach program in the aftermath of the Watts Riots by establishing a Community Relations Section. The Department recognized the need for mutual understanding and communication between the LAPD and the public, especially with minority communities in the aftermath of the Watts Riots. This program’s initial goals were unification of the Department’s efforts to consolidate and broaden community support and to assist local station commanding officers in maintaining channels of communication with minorities throughout the City. It was felt that, by engaging minority communities in meaningful dialogue, police-community problems, which contributed to social unrest or major confrontations, could be avoided.
The Community Relationship Division (est. August 2015):
Background:
The Community Relationship Division (CRD) was formed to meet Chief Charlie Beck’s goal of making the LAPD a leader in building relationships, building trust, and building empathy between the Department and the people in the City of Los Angeles. CRD was established to consolidate many community relations functions that existed piecemeal throughout the Department under different commands and provide direct support to patrol operations. By unifying various outreach efforts under one command, the Department eliminates redundancy in its community relations and engagement efforts. This allows the Department to effectively communicate with our diverse communities; to build lasting relationships; to foster trust; and to provide direct support to patrol operations.
Mission Statement and Goals:
The Community Relationship Division seeks to build relationships and trust between the Department and the diverse communities in Los Angeles while leveraging best practices in community outreach, community policing; and, community engagement. CRD will work within the Department to ensure that community relations efforts are consistent and directly support patrol operations with the goal of building long-lasting relationships with all communities. The CRD will achieve this mission by:
The Community Relationship Division (CRD) was formed to provide direct support to patrol divisions regarding relationship-based policing and community outreach efforts. The programs listed are available for all Geographic Areas and Traffic Divisions and any divisions requesting community outreach support. All officers can be reached by calling (213) 486-6000.
Community Engagement Unit:
Community Clean Up Days – Sunburst Youth Academy
The Sunburst Youth Academy (SYA), which was established by the California National Guard, has partnered with the Los Angeles Police Department on community clean ups. For more info on SYA: If your division needs some additional hands to help with the clean-up, please contact CRD to help facilitate SYA requests.
Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) Coordination Team
Officers assigned to the CPAB Coordination Team serve as a liaison with LAPD Headquarters, the Geographic Areas, and the various CPABs. Please contact CRD Administrative Unit at (213) 486-6000.
Crime Prevention Presentations
The CRD Crime Prevention Program is geared towards assisting the local areas with providing materials, setting up crime prevention tables and assisting with crime prevention efforts.
Days of Dialogue
This program was established by the Institute of Non-Violence to create a dialogue between law enforcement and the community and CRD has partnered with the Days of Dialogue. This program rolls out into Geographic Areas with minimal set up and has a small budget for refreshments for the participants.
Liaison Programs – Senior Lead Officers (SLO) assigned to these programs assist Geographic Area Officers and Community Relations Officers (CRO) offices within the specific outreach groups at each location.
Neighborhood Council Coordination Team
Officers assigned to this team work as a liaison between the Department the various Neighborhood Councils.
Office of the Chief of Police Special Events
Interested in volunteering for a major Los Angeles Police Department event?
Read Along Program
Community Relationship Division has partnered with the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) to conduct a Read Along with local children at the various branches throughout the LAPL system. If you’re interested in hosting a local Read Along and want to get the LAPL training, please contact CRD Administrative Unit at (213) 486-6000.
Civilian Community Police Academy
Do you have a civilian you want to nominate to attend the Civilian Community Police Academy? The course consists of one weekday evening session for ten-consecutive weeks. Please contact CRD Administrative Unit at (213) 486-6000.
Summer Night Lights – GRYD
Community Relationship Division officers deploy to many of the Summer Night Lights locations throughout the city to assist Geographic Areas with staffing these events.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) site plan approval
All site plans must be approved for safety and crime reduction concerns before the Department of City Planning will issue building permits. Environmental Impact Reports must also be completed with the assistance of the CPTED coordinator. Please contact CRD Administrative Unit at (213) 486-6000.