My OperaChief Lanier
Monday, August 3, 2009 1:37:41 PM
I haven't checked too many other sites, but there is an article on DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier in Parade Magazine here. In case you're one of the Sunday WaPo readers who just rips open that yellow plastic sac [sic] and goes straight for the funnies and coupons, Parade Magazine is in there, too. It has a nice article about how the crime situation has improved in "Our Nation's Capital". It gives Lanier a good bit of the credit, and the editor agrees, to an extent.
The improvement didn't begin with Lanier, however. Back when he first moved here, the editor didn't know what he was seeing in 3D, having come from Foggy Bottom and having no real need to concern himself with the police. He dutifully went to the 3D monthly citizen meetings, along with several others from the neighborhood. Somehow the image was not quality or discipline in the command structure. Not that everyone was sloppy or bad, but the editor had the feeling that it was often more a question of getting to retirement than to pounding on DCRA to help close a vacant, but drug infested townhouse, what with the extra effort that would take. There were many really good people, but enough time-servers to dilute the quality.
Sometime after the departure of Chief Fullwood things started to look up. Internal management quality became much more important to the police force. The demographics of the city changed as well. All of which is part of an on-going change in DC. The editor hopes that continues. It certainly looks as if Lanier is doing her part.
The improvement didn't begin with Lanier, however. Back when he first moved here, the editor didn't know what he was seeing in 3D, having come from Foggy Bottom and having no real need to concern himself with the police. He dutifully went to the 3D monthly citizen meetings, along with several others from the neighborhood. Somehow the image was not quality or discipline in the command structure. Not that everyone was sloppy or bad, but the editor had the feeling that it was often more a question of getting to retirement than to pounding on DCRA to help close a vacant, but drug infested townhouse, what with the extra effort that would take. There were many really good people, but enough time-servers to dilute the quality.
Sometime after the departure of Chief Fullwood things started to look up. Internal management quality became much more important to the police force. The demographics of the city changed as well. All of which is part of an on-going change in DC. The editor hopes that continues. It certainly looks as if Lanier is doing her part.
