Bratton’s on the job when he’s out of town
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Re “Bratton Out of Town for a Third of ‘05,” March 11
As do many who understand the practical role of top management, I disagree with former Police Commissioner Melanie Lomax and Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn. The practical top manager’s role is primarily external -- spending time on government relations and investigating entrepreneurial possibilities. Police Chief William J. Bratton should be in Sacramento and Washington frequently, securing, for instance, Homeland Security funds for L.A.. Elsewhere, he should be investigating how other police departments solve problems successfully. This could easily take half his time.
His internal management role is primarily brainstorming on how what others do may improve the Los Angeles Police Department. His other internal responsibility is improving the performance of his immediate subordinates. A danger in spending too much time at lower-management activities is to slip into micromanagement -- retarding, not advancing, middle-management development. Let the chief do his proper job.
MURRAY BURNS
Los Angeles
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What a non-story. Could The Times and Lomax please let the citizens of Los Angeles know when the next “crucial moment” will take place in the city? Maybe Bratton could then schedule his trips around it.
ANDRE BELOTTO
Los Angeles
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