12/6/02

LC021206

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> THE GOVERNMENT HAS TURNED LAX INTO A HEAVILY-GUARDED FORTRESS AGAINST TERRORISM, BUT WHO’S STANDING WATCH OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S SEAPORTS?

AMY ZEGART>> WE HAVE JUST SEEN THE PLACEMENT OF 45,000 AIRPORT SCREENERS, FEDERAL AIRPORT SCREENERS, AND YET IF YOU GO TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES ON A GIVEN DAY, A TYPICAL POLICE SHIFT HAS FIVE POLICE OFFICERS AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> L.A.’S NEW POLICE CHIEF HAS DECLARED WAR ON GANGS, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY’VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE. TONIGHT WE’LL ASK THE MAN HEADING THE NEW GANG CRACKDOWN HOW THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT.

JESS>> SHE IS ONE SINGULAR SENSATION AS A PERFORMER, BUT NOW DEBBIE ALLEN HAS A NEW ROLE.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> OKAY, FELLOWS, LET’S HAVE YOU IN HERE ONE MORE TIME. NOW WOULD YOU ALL DO IT LIKE YOU ALL MEAN IT?

JESS>> THESE DAYS, ALLEN’S STUDENTS ARE TOWING THE LINE AT HER DANCE ACADEMY. WE’LL FIND OUT HOW SHE’S CHOREOGRAPHED HER LIFE SO SHE CAN GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE ARTS.

VAL>> IT’S ALL COMING UP ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. YOU ARE SCREENED, SCANNED, SOMETIMES EVEN PATTED DOWN BEFORE YOU CAN GET ONTO AN AIRPLANE, BUT HOW TOUGH IS IT TO WALK RIGHT INTO A TERMINAL AT L.A.’S SEAPORTS?

VAL>> THE VULNERABILITY OF OUR HARBORS CAME INTO FOCUS AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS. NOW A NEW COAST GUARD PROGRAM IS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS AT SEA, BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, ON DRY LAND THERE MAY BE SOME HOLES BIG ENOUGH TO DOCK A CARGO SHIP.

GAY YEE>> THE U.S. COAST GUARD SOUNDED THE ALARM AFTER UNDERCOVER AGENTS WENT INTO THE TERMINALS AT THE PORTS OF L.A. AND LONG BEACH.

JOHN HOMES>> THEY WOULD GO OUT AND SIMPLY TRY TO GAIN ACCESS TO A FACILITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FACILITY STOPS THEM, CHECKS THEIR ID CARDS, ASKS THEM WHAT THEY’RE DOING ON THE FACILITY.

GAY YEE>> THE REPORT CARD?

JOHN HOLMES>> OCCASIONALLY WE WOULD FIND A GATE THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE A GUARD AT OR SOMEBODY THAT FORGOT TO CHECK SOMEBODY’S ID CARD.

GAY YEE>> KFWB REPORTER, ERIN KOTECKI, SAYS SHE’S NOT SURPRISED. SHE DID SOME SECURITY CHECKS OF HER OWN EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH FRIGHTENING RESULTS.

ERIN KOTECKI>> AT NIGHT FROM A DECK OF A COAST GUARD AUXILIARY BOAT, I CAN SEE CRUISE SHIPS, CARGO SHIPS IN THE MAIN CHANNEL AND, IN THE INNER HARBOR, OIL TANKERS....

ERIN KOTECKI>> I CAN GET IN EVERYWHERE, ALMOST EVERYWHERE. I CAN GET IN UNDER THE VINCENT THOMAS BRIDGE FROM THE SEASIDE USING JUST A RECREATIONAL BOAT, FISHERMAN OR SPORTING BOAT, WHATEVER YOU WANTED. YOU COULD GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE OIL TANKERS, WITH THE TANK FARMS, WITH MANY OF THE COMBUSTIBLE THINGS DOWN AT THE PORT OF L.A.

GAY YEE>> KOTECKI FOUND GAPING HOLES IN SECURITY AT WHICH SHOULD BE THE MOST CLOSELY GUARDED PORT IN THE NATION.

ERIN KOTECKI>> I WAS UNCHALLENGED AT AN OPEN GATE WHICH WAS ALMOST DIRECTLY UNDER THE VINCENT THOMAS BRIDGE AND LED DIRECTLY, IF I WOULD HAVE TRESPASSED AND WENT IN, WHICH I DIDN’T, BUT IT LED DIRECTLY TO ONE OF THE BASES OF THE BRIDGE. I WAS THERE UNCHALLENGED FOR HOURS.

GAY YEE>> KOTECKI SAYS PART OF THE PROBLEM IS MISCOMMUNICATION. SHE SAYS THERE ARE TOO MANY AGENCIES IN CHARGE OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE PORTS.

ERIN KOTECKI>> AND WE ACTUALLY HAD OFFICIALS TELLING US, WELL, WE TAKE CARE OF THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE, BUT WE DON’T TAKE CARE OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE. AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THE WATER SIDE, BUT THEY DON’T TAKE CARE OF THE LAND SIDE.

AMY ZEGART>> IT DOESN’T SURPRISE ME. I THINK THAT PORT SECURITY IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT RECEIVED NEARLY AS MUCH ATTENTION OR RESOURCES FROM THE FEDERAL OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS IT SHOULD.

GAY YEE>> UCLA PROFESSOR AMY ZEGART IS WRITING A BOOK ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND TERRORISM. ASK HER WHAT KEEPS HER AWAKE AT NIGHT AND SEAPORTS RANK HIGH ON HER LIST.

AMY ZEGART>> WE HAVE JUST SEEN THE PLACEMENT OF 45,000 AIRPORT SCREENERS, FEDERAL AIRPORT SCREENERS, AND YET IF YOU GO TO THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES ON A GIVEN DAY, A TYPICAL POLICE SHIFT HAS FIVE POLICE OFFICERS AT THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES. EVERYONE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPORT, THE AIRPORT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE LIST IN TERMS OF DISRUPTING AMERICAN ECONOMY, IN TERMS OF PROVIDING LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO THE UNITED STATES AND ACTUALLY PHYSICAL AND HUMAN DAMAGE AS WELL, KILLING A LOT OF PEOPLE, THE PORTS ARE CERTAINLY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

GAY YEE>> THE PORTS OF LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH HANDLE MORE THAN FORTY PERCENT OF THE GOODS SHIPPED TO THE UNITED STATES, EVERYTHING FROM TENNIS SHOES TO STEREOS. THE COAST GUARD SEA MARSHAL PROGRAM LETS OFFICERS BOARD SHIPS AT SEA TO MAKE SURE NO ONE IS ONBOARD WHO SHOULDN’T BE THERE AND IT BEEFS UP SECURITY THROUGHOUT THE PORT COMPLEX.

SO NOW THE COAST GUARD IS ISSUING AN ULTIMATUM, THREATENING SHIPS FROM DOCKING AT SOME TERMINALS UNLESS SECURITY IS IMPROVED. IN ESSENCE, SHUTTING THEM DOWN. IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, TERMINAL OPERATORS AND SHIPPERS HAVE TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR THEIR OWN SECURITY, WHICH GETS EXPENSIVE. COAST GUARD CAPTAIN JOHN HOLMES SAYS MANY OPERATORS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB AND HE BELIEVES THIS IS THE MOST VIGILANT PORT COMPLEX IN THE COUNTRY, BUT HE SAYS HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE A HARD LINE.

JOHN HOLMES>> AND IT’S NOT A PUNITIVE THING. IT’S SIMPLY AN ISSUE OF SECURITY. IF I HAVE A FACILITY THAT LETS PEOPLE IN AND DOESN’T CHECK ID CARDS AND I DON’T KNOW WHO’S ON THAT FACILITY, I’M NOT DOING MY JOB IF I LET THEM BRING A SHIP IN. I DON’T THINK YOU’RE EVER GOING TO GET A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT IF YOU CAN GET 99.8 PERCENT, THAT’S PRETTY DARN GOOD. WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT WE’RE DOING IS DETERRING PEOPLE FROM WANTING TO DO BAD THINGS.

JESS>> GAY YEE JOINS US NOW. YOU MENTIONED CITATIONS. WHAT WERE THE INFRACTIONS?

GAY YEE>> WELL, BASICALLY, THE INFRACTIONS WERE VERY SIMPLE THINGS. THEY SENT UNDERCOVER AGENTS TO THE TERMINALS, SO SOME OF THEM GOT BY WITHOUT HAVING THEIR ID’S CHECKED. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN UNMANNED GATE, OR THERE MAY HAVE BEEN FENCING. THE PERIMETER WASN’T SECURE, THAT THERE WAS A BREAK IN THE FENCE AND IT WAS NEVER REPAIRED.

VAL>> THESE ARE COAST GUARD UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATORS?

GAY YEE>> THEY’RE COAST GUARD UNDERCOVER AGENTS THAT WENT OUT. THEY WOULDN’T TELL US SPECIFICALLY WHICH TERMINALS WERE CITED, BUT THAT CERTAIN ONES DID HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. THEY WANTED PEOPLE AWARE OF THEM AND THEY ALSO MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY’RE NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS A TERRIBLE PORT AND THERE ARE ALL THESE PROBLEMS. IT WAS A PERIODIC REMINDER THAT WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND THEY STILL FEEL THAT, OVERALL, QUITE A FEW OF THE TERMINALS ARE DOING PRETTY DARN GOOD.

JESS>> THIS IS A HUGE TERMINAL, BUT HOW ABOUT OTHER PORTS IN THE COUNTRY?

GAY YEE>> THE CAPTAIN REALLY STRONGLY EMPHASIZED -- AND HE SAID THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN -- THAT HE FEELS THAT THE PORTS OF L.A. AND LONG BEACH, THE COMPLEXES, ARE PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE NATION BECAUSE SO MUCH IS AT STAKE HERE. OVER FORTY PERCENT OF ALL THE MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS THAT COME INTO THIS COUNTRY COME IN THROUGH THESE GATES. HE DEFINITELY FEELS THAT THEY’RE BEING VERY VIGILANT. A LOT OF MONEY ON THE GOVERNMENT’S SIDE HAS BEEN PUT IN FOR THE COAST GUARD, BUT THE TERMINALS HAVE TO BE KEPT ON THEIR TOES.

VAL>> WELL, IT’S GOOD TO KNOW THAT, DESPITE THE TROUBLES, OURS IS STILL ONE OF THE MORE SECURE.

GAY YEE>> HE SEEMS TO FEEL SO.

VAL>> GAY YEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, A STORY THAT WILL GIVE YOU SECOND THOUGHTS AT THE SUPERMARKET. YOU MAY WANT TO THINK TWICE ABOUT EATING FISH, AT LEAST THE ONES RAISED COMMERCIALLY.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE SPENT EIGHTEEN YEARS LOOKING DOWN INTO THE WATER, THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THIS INDUSTRY IS UNMISTAKABLE. THIS ARCHIPELAGO IS FLASHING NEON WARNING SIGNS TO ANYONE THAT’S LOOKING.

JESS>> THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING. 641 MURDERS IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES SO FAR THIS YEAR, NEARLY HALF OF THEM GANG-RELATED.

VAL>> THE CITY’S NEW POLICE CHIEF HAS DECLARED WAR ON GANG VIOLENCE AND, THIS WEEK, HE LAID OUT HIS BATTLE PLAN. IT INVOLVES DEPLOYING THE CITY’S GANG SUPPRESSION OFFICERS TO AREAS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST, LIKE SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES WHERE TWENTY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GUNNED DOWN IN JUST THE PAST THREE WEEKS.

JESS>> THE MAN WHO WOULD HEAD UP THE NEW CITYWIDE ANTI-GANG EFFORT IS NEWLY PROMOTED LAPD DEPUTY CHIEF, MICHAEL HILLMAN. IT’S HIS JOB TO PUT A DENT IN THE CITY’S GANG POPULATION, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN 100,000. CHIEF, THANKS FOR JOINING US. THAT IS A STAGGERING FIGURE. 100,000? THAT’S THE SIZE OF A SMALL CITY.

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> IT IS, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE.

VAL>> SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY? BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH GANGS HAVE BEEN PART OF L.A. CULTURE FOR SO LONG. WE’VE HAD CRACKDOWNS, WE MUST HAVE TRIED EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK. HOW COME WE HAVEN’T SOLVED THIS PROBLEM YET?

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> WELL, WITH GANGS, YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM UNLESS WE START TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF THE INDICATORS AND THE FAMILY ISSUES. THE CHIEF HAS BEEN VERY EMPHATIC ABOUT IT. IT’S SOMETHING THAT’S SHARED NOT ONLY BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT BY THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. THIS ALL BEGINS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND A GOOD FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT TAKE AN INTEREST IN THEIR KIDS AND KNOW WHERE THEY’RE AT AND KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING.

THE APPROACH THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE -- FIRST OF ALL, THERE’S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE’VE HEARD THIS ALL BEFORE. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHERE WE HAVE SEEN THIS AND WE’VE HEARD THIS ALL BEFORE. BUT THE APPROACH TO GANGS IS NOT JUST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION’S RESPONSIBILITY. IT’S THE COMMUNITY’S FUNCTION AS WELL. SO FIRST OFF, WHAT THE INTENTION IS IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE DOING AS AN ORGANIZATION, MEANING INTERNALLY WITHIN LAPD TO DEAL WITH A CITYWIDE COORDINATED EFFORT TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS PLAGUING THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF GANGS?

SO THAT’S THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO MAKE THE ASSESSMENT OF WHAT’S GOING ON. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AT THE SAME TIME, TO SURGICALLY AND WITH AUTHORIZATION AND NOT WITH HOSTILITY, BUT WITHIN A LAWFUL MEANS, TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITY WITHIN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES AND TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH ORDER IN THE COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO SHOPPING, TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TO BE ABLE TO WALK ON THE STREET AND TO BE ABLE TO FEEL SECURE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

JESS>> BUT SOME KID WITH BAGGY PANTS STANDING ON A CORNER WITH AN ATTITUDE IS NOT GOING TO BE ROUSTED NECESSARILY?

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> NO, NO. THAT’S NOT POLICE WORK. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT IS FROWNED UPON. THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION -- AND I’VE KNOWN THEM FOR WELL OVER THIRTY-SIX YEARS -- ARE RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE VERY DEDICATED IN USING REASONABLE SUSPICION AND PROBABLE CAUSE AS THE BASIS TO BE ABLE TO SURGICALLY GO INTO AND IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MORE THAN JUST A PAIR OF BAGGY PANTS DOWN ON THE STREET CORNER.

VAL>> EXACTLY, BUT NEVERTHELESS, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO LIVE THERE IS HOW WELCOME WILL THE LAPD GANG CRACKDOWN BE, ESPECIALLY NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE POLICE HAVE HAD A POOR IMAGE BASED ON PAST BEHAVIOR? SO HERE’S A SAMPLE OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES TOLD US.

LAWRENCE TOLLIVER>> SEE, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS NOT WANTING POLICE. THAT’S NOT TRUE. WE WANT POLICE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT A SAFE COMMUNITY. WE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE POLICEMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT WE WANT. IT BENEFITS US TO HAVE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT EVERY DAY. YOU KNOW, WHO WANTS TO GET OUT HERE AND BE LOOKING AROUND SCARED LIKE AN ANTELOPE AT A WATERING HOLE IN AFRICA WORRYING ABOUT SOMEBODY TRYING TO SHOOT THEM OR SOMETHING? WE DON’T WANT THAT. NO ONE WANTS THAT FOR THEIR KIDS. NO ONE WANTS THAT FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

JESS>> THERE IS A SPECIAL URGENCY ABOUT THIS MEASURE NOW SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF MURDERS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED THAT ARE GANG-RELATED.

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> THAT’S CORRECT. THERE’S A TWO-PRONG APPROACH HERE THAT WE’RE TAKING. THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE ACTION AND RESPONSE PLAN THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE PUT IN PLACE IN OPERATION SOUTH. THE BUREAU COMMANDER IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN THAT. IT’S A SPLENDID APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM WE HAVE. MUCH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND, AS WE JUST HEARD THE GENTLEMEN JUST REFERRED TO HERE, THE POLICE ARE WELCOMING US WITH OPEN ARMS.

THE APPROACH THAT WE’RE TAKING IS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED AS WELL AS OTHER ALLIED AGENCIES. NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALLIED AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED AND BASICALLY PUTTING A STOP TO WHAT’S GOING ON NOW. BUT STRATEGICALLY, THAT’S NOW. STRATEGICALLY, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK BEYOND THAT AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP AND HAVE A CONTINUING EFFORT IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE POTENTIAL GANG ISSUES AS WE GO ALONG. NOT JUST FOR SIX MONTHS, NOT JUST FOR A YEAR, NOT JUST FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT AS WE GO ALONG FOR YEARS ON END.

VAL>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED IS THAT THE CHIEF AND, I GUESS, BASICALLY YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE IN CHARGE OF THIS, ARE GOING TO REASSIGN GANG OFFICERS AND NARCOTIC OFFICERS TO THE HIGH CRIME AREAS AT THE TIMES OF THE WEEK AND THE TIMES OF THE DAY WHEN THE CRIME IS HIGHEST. NOW THAT SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER. ARE YOU SAYING THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE?

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> NO, IT HAS BEEN DONE, BUT THE ISSUE IS THE COORDINATION OF ALL OF THE EFFORTS. WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT, PUTTING THEM IN THE TIMES AND THE PLACES AND COMBINING NARCOTICS AND GANGS, THERE’S A VERY STRONG NEXUS BETWEEN THE TWO OBVIOUSLY. SOMETIMES WE CAN BECOME VERY COMPARTMENTALIZED AND, UNFORTUNATELY, NARCOTICS IS THE SCOURGE OF SOCIETY AND WE’RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TRY TO DEAL WITH GANGS. SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS WE DON’T HAVE A COORDINATED APPROACH TO BEING ABLE TO BLEND BOTH OF THEM.

BUT THERE’S MORE THAN JUST THE NARCOTICS AND THE JUST THE GANGS AND BEING ABLE TO BRING THE COMMUNITY INTO IT TO BE ABLE TO HELP IDENTIFY LOCATIONS AND SO FORTH THAT ARE POTENTIAL PROBLEM SPOTS. THE EXAMPLE THAT I USE HERE IS THAT WE NORMALLY DEPLOY BASED UPON STATISTICS. YOU LOOK AT THE CRIMES, THE TIMES OF DAYS AND SO FORTH, AND YOU HAVE TO DEPLOY RESOURCES ACCORDINGLY. INSTEAD OF DOING IT JUST ON WHAT WE CALL AN AREA-WIDE BASIS, WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS THING IN MUCH MORE OF A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE AND IN A LARGER AREA.

SO BY TAKING AND LOOKING AT IT IN A LARGER AREA, LOOKING AT THE GROUPS AND IDENTIFYING THE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS AND BRINGING THE COMMUNITY IN AND HAVING THE COMMUNITY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU MAY BE DEPLOYING BASED UPON STATISTICS AND TIMES OF DAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS HOUSE OVER ON THIS PARTICULAR STREET IS A LOCATION WHERE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE CONGREGATE. THAT MAY NEVER SHOW UP ON THE POLICE RADAR SCREEN, SO TO SPEAK, AND THAT TYPE OF INPUT IS INVALUABLE, INVALUABLE, BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PROBLEM FOCUS AND GO IN AND SURGICALLY REMOVE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS AND PART OF THE CRIMINALITY.

JESS>> IS THE AGGRESSIVE POLICY BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT “GANG MEMBER” IS SYNONYMOUS WITH “CRIMINAL”?

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THIS. I’M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE AGGRESSIVE TERMINOLOGY. I WANT TO SAY THAT WE’RE PRO ACTIVE BECAUSE WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT THIS THING CEREBRALLY AND WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT IT STRATEGICALLY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WHERE WE’RE GOING TO GO INTO AN AREA AND JUST FLOOD AN AREA WITH OFFICERS AND JUST RANDOMLY MOVE ABOUT.

JESS>> THAT WAS TRIED UNDER DARYL GATES, WASN’T IT?

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> WELL, IT’S BEEN TRIED AND IT’S BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SOME DEGREE. IN SOME DEGREE, IT HAS MET WITH SOME SUCCESS, BUT WE’RE LOOKING AT THIS IN A MUCH MORE KIND OF A VISIONARY PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT GOING INTO AN AREA AND SURGICALLY GOING AFTER THE INDIVIDUALS AND USING THE COMMUNITY INFORMATION, USING THE INTELLIGENCE ABOUT WHO’S CAUSING THE PROBLEMS AND BRINGING IN PROBATION AND PAROLE, FOR EXAMPLE, ATF AND DEA AND FBI AND SOME OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND TAKING A LOOK AT THEM AND IDENTIFYING THE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS, THEN WE CAN GO AFTER THEM. AND IF WE HAVE CONTINUING CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES, LAST TIME I CHECKED, THAT HAPPENS TO BE A FEDERAL VIOLATION. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE’RE LOOKING AT.

VAL>> NOW YOU MENTIONED THREE OR FOUR TIMES THAT YOU DEPEND ON THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE YOU CRUCIAL INFORMATION, BUT, YOU KNOW, THESE GANGS CAN BE VERY INTIMIDATING AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE TURNED IN GANG MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SHOT. YOU KNOW, THEIR HOUSES SHOT UP. I MEAN, THAT’S A SCARY THING.

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> IT IS A SCARY THING.

VAL>> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET OVER THAT?

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, AS YOU ALREADY HEARD HERE BY JUST THIS ONE INDIVIDUAL -- I’VE ATTENDED SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY -- THIS REMINDS ME OF GOING BACK TO THE 1992 CIVIL UNREST THAT WE HAD HERE. PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES WELCOME THE POLICE. THEY BEGGED FOR THEM. THEY WANTED THEM. THEY COULDN’T GET THEM ENOUGH. THEY COULDN’T GET ENOUGH OF THEM. THEY COULDN’T GET THEM WHERE THEY WANTED. PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR OUR HELP AND IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND WE’RE GOING TO DO THAT. WE’RE DOING IT NOW. WE’RE DOING IT IN THE SHORT-TERM AND WE’RE GOING TO DO IT IN THE LONG-TERM STRATEGICALLY.

JESS>> CHIEF BRATTON SAID OF GANGS THAT THEY’RE WORSE THAN THE MAFIA. HE SAID, “SHOW ME A YEAR IN NEW YORK WHERE THE MAFIA INDISCRIMINATELY KILLED THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE.” IS THIS GOING TO BE APPROACHED AS YOU WOULD ORGANIZED CRIME?

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> THAT IS A LONG-TERM STRATEGY TO IT. THAT IS WHAT THE CHIEF HAS SPECIFICALLY GIVEN DIRECTION TO. MY RESPONSIBILITY IS GOING TO BE THE GANG COORDINATOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT AMONGST MANY OTHER THINGS THAT I’M GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, BUT I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. I’M GOING TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND SAY THAT GANGS ARE PART OF URBAN TERRORISM AND WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT IT WITH THAT IN MIND.

VAL>> CHIEF MICHAEL HILLMAN, WE WISH YOU LUCK FOR ALL OUR SAKES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU’VE TAKEN ON A BIG JOB. ALL THE BEST OF LUCK.

MICHAEL HILLMAN>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

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JESS>> DEBBIE ALLEN. SHE IS A TRIPLE THREAT PERFORMER, SINGER, DANCER, ACTRESS, NOT TO MENTION HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS DIRECTOR, PRODUCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER. ENOUGH CREDITS TO LET ANY SUPERSTAR REST HAPPILY ON HER LAURELS.

VAL>> BUT ALLEN IS FAR FROM READY TO SIT BACK AND RELAX. IN FACT, SHE’S TAKING ON A NEW ROLE AS FOUNDER OF HER OWN DANCE ACADEMY. VICKI CURRY TALKED WITH ALLEN ABOUT HER LATEST CALLING AND HER FIRST LOVE.

[FILM CLIP]

VICKI CURRY>> IT’S THE ROLE THAT PUT DEBBIE ALLEN ON THE MAP, DANCE TEACHER LYDIA GRANT IN THE FILM AND TV SERIES, “FAME”. THE PART HELPED LAUNCH ALLEN’S PROLIFIC CAREER AND OPENED THE DOOR TO BOTH DIRECTING AND PRODUCING. BUT DEBBIE ALLEN, LIKE LYDIA GRANT, IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A DANCER.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> I CAN’T REMEMBER NOT DANCING. I THINK I CAME OUT DANCING. I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY BORN TO DO WHAT THEY DO AND I THINK I WAS BORN TO DANCE. WELL, I THINK THERE’S A REAL FREEDOM OF SPIRIT WHEN YOU DANCE. I THINK IT’S VERY SPIRITUAL TO DANCE. IT TAKES A LOT OF INNER POWER TO PUSH YOUR BODY TO ITS EXTREMES AND ITS LIMITATIONS.

VICKI CURRY>> DEBBIE ALLEN IS ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST-KNOWN DANCERS. BUT AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN HOUSTON, IT TOOK A LOT OF FANCY FOOTWORK FOR HER TO EVEN GET STARTED.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> WELL, WHEN I STARTED OUT AND I WANTED SO MUCH TO BE A BALLERINA, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT BLACK STUDENTS WERE REALLY ENCOURAGED TO DO, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONALLY.

VICKI CURRY>> DESPITE DISCRIMINATION AND DISCOURAGEMENT, ALLEN MADE HER WAY TO NEW YORK AND FOUND WORK AND ACCLAIM ON BROADWAY AND IN TELEVISION. THEN WHEN “FAME” BROUGHT HER INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, SHE USED HER CLOUT TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES BEHIND THE SCENES.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> WELL, I THINK MY DEVELOPMENT WAS KIND OF A NATURAL PROGRESSION, IF YOU WILL, LIKE STARTING OUT AS A DANCER, BECOMING A CHOREOGRAPHER, BECOMING A DIRECTOR, BECOMING A PRODUCER.

VICKI CURRY>> ALLEN NOT ONLY ACHIEVED HER GOALS, BUT DISTINGUISHED HERSELF AS ONE OF THE TOP PROFESSIONALS IN THE BUSINESS. SHE HAS CHOREOGRAPHED THE OSCARS, DIRECTED HIT TV SHOWS AND PRODUCED MAJOR FEATURE FILMS.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> I AM DRIVEN BY CREATIVITY. THE IDEA OF COMING UP WITH SOMETHING, THE CHALLENGE OF IT, THE FIGURING IT OUT, I LIKE THAT. THE DOING IS ACTUALLY THE BEST PART.

VICKI CURRY>> AFTER YEARS OF SUCCESS ON THE SOUNDSTAGES OF HOLLYWOOD, DEBBIE ALLEN RECENTLY RETURNED TO THE BALLET STUDIO. SHE’S TAKEN ON YET ANOTHER NEW CHALLENGE AND NOW SHE’S FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THE TALENTS OF YOUNG ARTISTS HERE AT HER OWN DANCE ACADEMY.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> FELLOWS, LET’S HAVE YOU IN HERE ONE MORE TIME AND WOULD YOU ALL DO IT LIKE YOU ALL MEAN IT?

DEBBIE ALLEN>> I WANTED THERE TO BE A WEST COAST ACADEMY THAT WAS PARALLEL OR EQUAL TO ANYTHING YOU COULD SEE IN THE WORLD, SO I DECIDED AFTER I HAD TO SEND MY DAUGHTER AWAY TO THE KIROV ACADEMY TO STUDY DANCE TO GET THE TOOLS THAT I WANTED HER TO HAVE THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE IT HERE.

VICKI CURRY>> NOW, IN A CASE OF LIFE IMITATING ART, DEBBIE ALLEN IS ONCE AGAIN PLAYING THE ROLE OF DEMANDING DANCE TEACHER. HER DANCE ACADEMY REQUIRES STUDENTS TO TAKE AN INTENSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM.

[FILM CLIP]

DEBBIE ALLEN>> IT’S NO LONGER ENOUGH JUST TO DO ONE THING. THAT’S NOT THE WAY THE WORLD IS NOW. THERE IS A MELTING POT. THERE IS A COMING TOGETHER OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES AND STYLES AND THAT’S WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR. I THINK THE REASON I HAVE SURVIVED, NOT JUST SURVIVED, BUT CONTINUED TO BE CREATIVE IS BECAUSE I HAVE A WIDE RANGE IN MY VOCABULARY. SO I’M LOOKING TO DEVELOP THAT NEXT GENERATION OF DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS WHO ARE SUPERIOR NOT ONLY IN THEIR TECHNIQUE, BUT IN THEIR DANCE LANGUAGE AND WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO BRING.

VICKI CURRY>> TRADITIONALLY, THE DANCE WORLD HAS RIGID STANDARDS AND STRICT TRAINING. WHILE ALLEN EXPECTS EXCELLENCE FROM HER STUDENTS, SHE’S ALSO WORKING TO CHANGE THE HARSH AND UNREALISTIC DEMANDS MADE ON YOUNG DANCERS.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> YOU CAN CORRECT A CHILD, YOU CAN CRITICIZE A CHILD, BUT LET’S NOT KILL THEIR SPIRIT. LET’S NOT GO FOR THEIR HEARTBEAT. LET’S LEAVE THEM THAT SENSE OF THEMSELVES AND THE REASON THEY’RE HERE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A JOY, THEY DO HAVE A GIFT, THEY DO HAVE AN ABILITY. I JUST DON’T THINK THAT THE DANCE WORLD HAS TO BE BORNE ON ANOREXIC KIDS. I’M LOOKING FOR THE STUDENT WHO IS TALENTED, BUT ALSO HAS THAT SPIRIT INSIDE OF THEM.

VICKI CURRY>> THERE’S NO WAY OF KNOWING WHO AMONG THESE STUDENTS MIGHT EMERGE SOMEDAY AS THE NEXT BIG STAR IN DANCE. THE TRAINING FOR CELEBRITY ISN’T THE POINT OF THE DEBBIE ALLEN DANCE ACADEMY. THE GOAL HERE IS TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> EVERY STUDENT IN MY ACADEMY WON’T GO ON TO BECOME ANOTHER JUDITH JAMISON OR BOB FOSSE OR ALVIN AILEY OR WHATEVER OR GREGORY HINES. BUT THAT DISCIPLINE OF DANCE, THAT LOVE OF DANCE, WILL MAKE THEM A MORE WELL-ROUNDED HUMAN BEING IN THE WORLD. I THINK THAT THE ARTS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WAYS TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE. THE ART WORLD TEACHES YOU HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN A VERY CREATIVE WAY. ART EDUCATION IS HUGE AND I THINK I HAVE BEAMED INTO THIS MISSION OF BATTLING FOR THAT FOR KIDS AROUND THE WORLD.

VICKI CURRY>> HER KIDS GET TO PUT THAT EDUCATION TO THE TEST WITH REGULAR PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING MAJOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS WRITTEN, DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED, OF COURSE, BY DEBBIE ALLEN.

[FILM CLIP]

DEBBIE ALLEN>> I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A REALLY KIND OF WILD IMAGINATION (LAUGHTER) AND MY IMAGINATION CAN REALLY GO THERE. I’VE CREATED FIVE MUSICALS OF DANCE PIECES AND THEY’VE ALL BEEN VERY UNIQUE AND INDIVIDUAL AND DIFFERENT.

[FILM CLIP]

VICKI CURRY>> IN A CAREER THAT’S STILL EVOLVING, DEBBIE ALLEN TAKES GREAT COMFORT IN KNOWING SHE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO HER ROOTS. IT’S A CREATIVE WORLD WHERE A VETERAN PERFORMER WHO’S TASTED FAME IS ABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO SCORES OF YOUNG PEOPLE FILLED WITH THE SAME DREAMS SHE ONCE HAD.

DEBBIE ALLEN>> THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO, BUT THE ACADEMY IS LIKE A BABY AND I’VE GOT TO GET IT UP ON ITS FEET SO THAT I KNOW IT CAN WALK AND THEN I’VE GOT TO GUIDE IT SO THAT I KNOW IT CAN RUN AND THEN I’VE GOT TO STEP BACK AND WATCH IT FLY.

JESS>> IF YOU’D LIKE TO CATCH DEBBIE ALLEN IN PERSON, SHE’S APPEARING IN HER OWN PRODUCTION, THE MUSICAL “PEARL”, AT THE GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE THROUGH DECEMBER 29. YOU CAN GET DETAILS BY CALLING THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN OR AT THE WEBSITE GODEBBIEALLEN.COM.

[310-208-5454]

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THAT’S A GOOD ONE. AND FOR TRANSCRIPTS OF LIFE AND TIMES OR INFORMATION ON UPCOMING PROGRAMS, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

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