The LAPD’s Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Program Can Be Very Helpful

I decided to do a little outreach today to the LAPD in an effort to let them know who I am in case I turn up dead in a dumpster one day.  You see, I got a couple of angry phone calls and messages today from a certain dead guy’s girlfriend and she was none too happy about one of the articles that I wrote.  But, I’ll save that story for another time.

I ended up getting a referral from a friend that the guy I wanted to talk to over at LAPD’s Topanga Division was Senior Lead Officer Brent Rygh.  I spoke to Officer Rygh and he was very helpful and clued me into all the different people I need to speak to for various issues that might come up.

His job function is very interesting.  He is what the LAPD refers to as a Senior Lead Officer (SLO).  Topanga Division’s service area is divided into several portions, and each SLO handles one of them.  Rygh’s area is Woodland Hills west of Topanga Canyon Blvd.  Here’s a map of what the area boundaries are, and which Senior Lead Officer handles them:

Officer Rygh described the program to me as a liaison between the department and the community.  For instance, he explained, if a resident is having repeated problems with crimes as to where simply having a patrol car come out and take a report, or issue a citation isn’t solving the root cause of the problem, the Senior Lead Officer can work with the parties to come to a resolution, conduct further investigations, and move the issue along to resolution or escalation as needed.  From  the LAPD website:

Each SLO is responsible for a small portion of the community known as a Basic Car Area, and will address local issues to help keep you safe and informed.

It actually really good to know the LAPD has a program like this.  Because as we all know, sometimes issues are more complex than can be dealt with by simply having the police come once.  Issues like consistently noisy neigbhors, repeated vandalism, etc. can sometimes require a different approach to reach a resolution.

Officer Rygh also made me aware of the Topanga Area LAPD newsletter, which you can access here.  Rygh wrote a story for this month’s issue where he describes the end of an era, as the weekly gathering of car lovers and their amazing vehicles on Muholland Drive is being relocated, apparently to the Northridge Mall’s parking lot.  Here’s his article:

“SUPERCAR SUNDAYS”

For nearly 5 years some of the world’s most beautiful cars have gathered together on Sunday mornings in Woodland Hills at 23351 Mulholland Drive. From Lamborghinis and Ferraris, to Nash Ramblers and custom street rods, the lot would fill with cars that most of us can only dream of owning. The drivers sip a cup of coffee as they show off their cars and admire others before taking a drive through the canyons or off to the beach. Photographers, spectators, and car enthusiasts came from miles around to catch a glimpse of their favorite cars and the occasional appearance celebrities like Jay Leno.

This impromptu car show recently became the victim of its own success and outgrew the capacity of the parking lot, particularly on the last Sunday of the month when hundreds of cars came from all over Southern California.   The lack of parking combined with the occasional exhibition of speed drew the ire of some customers and businesses which has led to the closure of the lot to any and all car show activities by the property management company. A few other venues have opened their parking lots to people who wish to continue this event at a new location. For details, email Senior Lead Officer Brent Rygh at 30450@lapd.lacity.org.

Check out the full newsletter in PDF format below.  If you have any issues that you feel like Senior Lead Officer Rygh can help you with, contact him at (818) 731-2581.  His eastern Woodland Hills counterpart is Senior Lead Officer Dinse, who can be reached at (818) 731-2568.

Popularity: 4%

• Supplemental Link: LAPD Topanga November Newsletter