Los Angeles Sheriff - West Hollywood Station

Community Impact Team	Sunset Policing Team
COPPS Team	Special Problems Unit

CIT Team (Community Impact Team) :

The West Hollywood CIT Team was formed in September 2003 under the supervision of Lieutenant Dave Smith and Sergeant Bowman. The CIT team is a combined effort of the Community Oriented Policing & Problem Solving Team (COPPS), Sunset Policing Team (SPT), and the Special Problems Unit Team (SPU). Integrating the teams in this fashion has the positive effect of incorporating their various missions into a single common vision of crime prevention, intervention, and enforcement strategies. By combining the resources of COPPS, SPU, SPT with the inclusion of Volunteers On Patrol and Station Reserves, we are better prepared to deal with community Quality of Life issues and public safety concerns.

If you have any comments or questions or comments about the CIT Team or any of the other specialized units, feel free to call Sergeant Chris Bowman at (310) 855-8850 ext 456.

COPPS Team (Community Oriented Policing & Problem Solving):

The West Hollywood Sheriff's Station has a 6 member COPPS Team that is committed to working in a problem-solving partnership with residents, community groups, city officials, and local businesses to fight crime and to improve the quality of life for the people of West Hollywood. Able to focus on community crime and disorder problems, the COPPS Team Deputies work together with Neighborhood Watch groups and community organizations addressing problems and issues that often are overlooked by typical law enforcement.

One of the goals of the COPPS Team has been to target the presence of criminal transients in our city. Working diligently to identify, and if possible arrest these individuals, the COPPS Team is constantly striving to help keep our sidewalks and businesses safe, and free from fraud and aggressive panhandling.
The team has also focused on establishing effective school safety programs with the staffs and students at all our local schools, helping them prepare for the possibility of an emergency (such as an earthquake, gas leak, or act of violence). In recent months, in addition to conducting plain clothes operations targeting auto theft, burglary, and robbery suppression, the COPPS Team Deputies have also worked vigorously enforcing animal nuisance laws.

If you ever have any comments or questions about West Hollywood's COPPS Team, please feel free to contact COPPS Team at (310) 855-8850 ext 456.

SPT Team (Sunset Policing Team):

Over the past several years, the Sunset Strip has become a popular destination for club patrons and cruisers creating traffic congestion and large numbers of pedestrian traffic. Because of this the The Sunset Policing Team was developed to respond to the needs of the City of West Hollywood and the public regarding the the policing of the Sunset Strip. Sergeant Bowman supervises four Deputies patrolling on motorcycles along with other personnel allocated to enforcement along Sunset Boulevard. A "Zero Tolerance" is in effect as they deal aggressively with club patrons and visitors to the Sunset Strip who choose to disrupt the social norms of this community and violate State laws and local ordinances. This also includes dealing with club operators who fail to abide by all laws or their relevant permits. Working in conjunction with the city, an "Anti Cruising Ordinance" was passed and random cruising check points are conducted on the Boulevard. During the "Check Point" operations, all vehicle traffic is handed a flyer explaining the Law and all vehicle license plates are entered into a database. If a vehicle crosses the same check point a second time in a set time period, the driver is cited for the violation. The check points have become an effective tool in curbing the "cruisers" who generally do not patron the businesses along the Boulevard.

SPU Team (Special Problems Unit):

West Hollywood's Special Problems Unit (SPU) is comprised of six Deputies and supervised by the CIT Sergeant. Working together with the community and City officials, the SPU Team conducts special Special Teams operations targeting ongoing criminal activity in specific areas. Narcotic suppression, hate crime suppression, and street prostitution enforcement are a regular part of the SPU Team's focus. In recent months, the SPU Team Deputies have had tremendous success targeting "Bandit Cabs" that are working within the city without a license.

Often working undercover, or in plain clothes, the SPU Team is able to focus all its attention on a specific area or problem, while the regular patrol units continue to handle calls for service. They also are able to act as a support team assisting Narcotics Bureau and station detectives in the service of search warrants and special operations.