Patterico's Pontifications

5/12/2006

LAPD Blog

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:12 am



The LAPD now has a blog. This was reported in yesterday’s L.A. Times, which gave a non-working address for the blog: LAPDblog.org.

It remains to be seen whether the blog will be bland and institutional, as you would naturally expect it to be (and as the first post is), or whether it will ever be worth reading. Bratton says he will use it to respond to critics on occasion:

“I see the blog, which is first and foremost a department blog, as an opportunity to communicate with the public and educate them about what we are doing at the LAPD,” Bratton said Thursday.

“But I also see it as an opportunity for me to respond to those issues where I feel the department is being misrepresented,” the chief added.

That could be interesting.

If you want an honest, ground’s-eye view of what it’s like to be a street cop, you probably won’t get it at the LAPD blog. You’re better off reading the articles of Jack Dunphy. Still, this blog is probably worth keeping an eye on, if for no other reason than to see how they handle and respond to comments.

P.S. In discussing the blog’s launch, Kevin Roderick says:

Bratton also spent a couple of hours schmoozing among media types and bloggers such as Mickey Kaus, Patterico, Cathy Seipp and the LAT’s Bob Sipchen at the last monthly gathering of Scott Kaufer’s group at Yamashiro.

Well, sort of. I’m almost positive Bratton didn’t say two words to Kaus, Seipp, or Sipchen, and he barely said two words to me — and I was sitting right next to him. As I said on Sunday, Bratton “looked a little like he wanted to be somewhere else.” I’m sure he’s a nice enough guy, and his wife is wonderful — but he wasn’t really “schmoozing” with anyone that night.

2 Responses to “LAPD Blog”

  1. It’s a pretty interesting idea. Maybe the cops can guest blog for a day and bring out stuff we wouldn’t hear about… the lighter side.

    In honor of the new blog and for Chief Bratton, may David Letterman’s writers help you keep it fresh and real. From CBS:

    Top Ten Classes at the New York City Police Academy

    10. Your Gun: Passport To Coolness
    9. Micro-Hookernomics
    8. Folded Newpaper or Shopping Bag? The Best Way to Accept Bribe Money.
    7. How to Frisk a Pantsless Guy.
    6. Our Friends in the Mounted Police: More Than Just Dorks on Horses.
    5. “We got a 10-19 in progress!” And Other Things We Say Just to Sound Cool.
    4. Recreational Handcuff Use.
    3. The Film Career of David Caruso (only 1/2 credit).
    2. How to Respond to the Finger
    1. Interrogation Techniques That Drive Chicks Wild

    Vermont Neighbor (a9ae2c)

  2. At least they are being honest about the purpose and boundaries of the blog; they’re not pretending that it will be something other than a particular communications tool.

    Given the woeful business-blogs out there, most of which are almost grotesque in their inadvertant parody of bloggging (Australian business blogs; don’t know about elsewhere), they are probably off to a good start – at least his first post is articulate & clear, with a little bit of PR deftly woven in.

    Caz (975608)


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