LAPD Chief Bratton honored by Queen of England for helping US, UK improve policing

August 13th, 2009 Retiring Los Angeles police chief has book dealNEW YORK — William J. Bratton, who last week abruptly announced he would retire as head of the Los Angeles Police Department, has a book deal.

August 6th, 2009 Police chief Bratton shocks LA with resignationLOS ANGELES — Police Chief William Bratton stunned the city Wednesday, saying he will step down after a seven-year tenure when crime rates plummeted to 1950s levels and once-contentious relations between officers and diverse communities improved. Only a month ago, Bratton said he was shopping for a new home in Los Angeles.

August 5th, 2009 AP sources: LA police chief Bratton stepping downLOS ANGELES — Police Chief William Bratton is stepping down after a seven-year tenure in which he instituted vast reforms of the once-scandalized police department, two city officials said Wednesday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

August 5th, 2009 AP source: LA police chief Bratton stepping downLOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles city official says Police Chief William Bratton is stepping down after a seven-year tenure in which he instituted vast reforms of the once-scandalized police department. The person, who has knowledge of the situation but was not authorized to speak publicly, spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

August 5th, 2009 LA police chief Bratton stepping downLOS ANGELES — Police Chief William Bratton stunned the city Wednesday by announcing he will step down after a seven-year tenure in which he instituted major reforms of the once-scandalized Police Department and began a turnaround of its relations with minorities. "For me personally and professionally it is the right time," Bratton, 61, told a City Hall news conference where he revealed he will begin working with a global security firm.

July 26th, 2009 LAPD has shed scandalous image, city leaders sayLOS ANGELES — Eleven years after an anti-gang cop was arrested for stealing six pounds of cocaine from an evidence room, city leaders believe the Los Angeles Police Department has dashed the image of corruption and abuse spawned by revelations of the theft investigation. "The LAPD that through much of its history was maligned and criticized is now moving into the 21st century as a leader in creating positive change," Chief William Bratton declared after a federal judge this month freed his department from oversight by the U.S.

July 20th, 2009 LA leaders hail end of police oversightLOS ANGELES — City leaders on Monday celebrated the end of eight years of federal oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department, which had been prompted by U.S. Department of Justice allegations of a long pattern of abuses.

July 18th, 2009 Federal judge ends LAPD consent decreeLOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Friday released the Los Angeles Police Department from a decade-long consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice that was aimed at ensuring reforms after a corruption scandal.

July 10th, 2009 LAPD: Michael Jackson's drug history to be probedLOS ANGELES — Detectives investigating the death of Michael Jackson are looking at his prescription drug history and trying to talk with his numerous former doctors, the Los Angeles police chief said. Chief William Bratton told CNN that police are waiting for the coroner's report before ruling out any possibilities in their "comprehensive" investigation into the sudden death of the 50-year-old pop star two weeks ago.

July 1st, 2009 LAPD says no officers fired for May Day meleeLOS ANGELES — Police officials in Los Angeles say none of the officers who pummeled demonstrators with batons and fired rubber bullets during a pro-immigration rally will lose their jobs. Police Chief William Bratton had asked for the firing of four officers.

July 1st, 2009 LAPD: No officers fired for May Day rally beatingsLOS ANGELES — Officials say none of the Los Angeles police officers who pummeled protesters with batons and opened fire with rubber bullets at a 2007 pro-immigration rally will be fired. Police Chief William Bratton had asked for the firing of four officers but said Tuesday that the stiffest penalty imposed by a department disciplinary board was a 20-day suspension for one officer.

June 17th, 2009 LAPD bans police uniforms for film set guardsLOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department is banning the blue for retired cops who guard streetside film shoots. For decades, ex-officers have worn the same uniforms as working officers, except they don't have rank stripes and their badges say "retired." But Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell announced Tuesday that, beginning in three months, ex-officers at film locations must wear a different outfit: black pants, white shirts, yellow safety vests and patches that read "Film Detail." That irked ex-officers and film location managers.

June 16th, 2009 Judge wants assurance before ending LAPD oversightLOS ANGELES — A federal judge says the Los Angeles Police Department has made great strides in reforming itself, but he's not ready to free it from U.S. Justice Department oversight until several key issues are resolved.

June 13th, 2009 Report says LAPD federal consent decree should endLOS ANGELES — The independent monitor that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department says a federal consent decree that the department has operated under since 2001 should end. In a report released Friday, the Office of the Independent Monitor says the agreement between the department and the Department of Justice improved the LAPD's operations.

April 28th, 2009 Queen Elizabeth honors Yeomen of the GuardLONDON — Queen Elizabeth II honored her Yeomen of the Guard on Tuesday in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, while her husband reportedly joked about the guards' scarlet stockings. The queen placed flowers at the tomb of King Henry VII, who created the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth.