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# Breakout role Police go on the defensive in Pico
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/breakout-role-police-go-on-the-defensive-in-pico/
- Published: 2006-07-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T19:01:26.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Community, Pico, #archive-import

*Blame game played in Pico*

VIRGINIA AVENUE PARK — Parents came here Monday night looking for answers, but received little in return as a community meeting geared toward establishing better communication between police and residents crumbled under frustration caused by protocol and 20 years of misunderstanding and conflict.

The Virginia Park Advisory Board gathered to discuss ways in which residents and park employees could be better notified by the Santa Monica Police Department when violent crimes occur in the area — crimes such as the recent string of shootings in the Pico neighborhood and an attempted rape at the park. Board members also wanted to find ways in which city staff could be contacted when a youth is questioned by police while visiting the park.

However, shortly after the meeting was called to order at the Thelma Terry Building, it became clear that the capacity crowd was not there to simply sit back and listen. A handful of black and Latino parents came to confront city officials and high-ranking members of the Santa Monica Police Department about alleged misconduct by some officers, and the inability or unwillingness of City Hall to address gang violence.

Police Chief James T. Butts was on hand, as were Mayor Bob Holbrook, City Manager Lamont Ewell and Councilman Richard Bloom. School board member Oscar de la Torre and Planning Commissioner Terry 0’Day also were in the crowd of about 50.

Mothers charged that their sons have been targeted and harassed by some officers for hanging out at the park, while older youth complained of a lack of programs and job opportunities.

“All youth in the Pico neighborhood are labeled as gang members,” said parent Belinda Ramos. “Youth are told (by police) that they can’t hang out at the park … These shootings are done by some people from the outside and it’s our children who are being oppressed and harassed.”

Some suggestions were made as to how the SMPD and City Hall could better communicate with residents about violent crimes, including posting bulletins on people’s doorsteps, using City TV to disseminate information on suspects, and having officers contact churches to reach older residents who do not know how to access the SMPD’s Web site for updates.

But a structured conversation became difficult as emotions ran high. Warnings that residents and at least one board member were “out of order,” seemed to do nothing to stop the conversation from turning to a critique of law enforcement.

The meeting was called by the advisory board, which does not make policy decisions for City Hall,members had very few answers to give. For the most part, Butts’ comments were directed towards the board as he answered questions regarding notification of residents and staff. He refrained from addressing accusations against the department directly.

That seemed to anger some in the audience who wanted the board to abandon protocol and force officials to dig deeper into the issues raised.

“The hell with protocol,” parent Lori Williams said. “We have the chief of police here, the mayor. This is an important issue (gang violence) and this is a time when we need to put the agenda for tonight aside and discuss what’s really on our minds.”

After nearly two hours of verbal attacks against the SMPD, many left the meeting, including Butts, who told the crowd that they were painting an inaccurate picture of the work his officers do to keep residents safe from gang violence, including increased patrols in the Pico neighborhood and the deployment of air patrol via a helicopter.

Butts said residents who are angry at the police fail to recognize efforts made by the SMPD to reach out to residents, including hosting barbecues at the park and interacting with youth at the Police Activities League and at the park’s Teen Center.

“Listening to this is very demoralizing to those officers who are here for you,” Butts said. “We don’t have balance here.”

Butts said the SMPD does everything it can to notify residents of a serious crime that has taken place. Within an hour or so of a violent incident, Butts said his officers prepare a press release that is e-mailed to the local media and city officials.A hotline also is updated, and community liaisons are available day or night to respond to concerns.

“We do the best we can to notify as many as we can, but it comes to a point where we have to rely on the mass media to get the word out,” Butts said.

Irma Carranza, a board member, said that wasn’t good enough.

“It sounds like the responsibility lies with the residents, as if they have to do all the leg work,” Carranza said. “Residents have to do all the leg work instead of it being vice versa … Half the people on the board didn’t even know about the shootings.”

SMPD Capt. Jacqueline Seabrooks said residents do share the responsibility of informing their neighbors.

“We look to you to share that information, which often can saturate the community much faster,” Seabrooks said.

A day after the meeting, Bloom looked to put things in perspective, saying that only a small group of community members said they had negative encounters with the SMPD, and while that was unfortunate, he said it was important for people to realize City Hall and the police are committed to addressing the issue of gang violence.

“With one or two exceptions, virtually everyone who spoke had someone to blame,” Bloom said. “They were pointing the finger and I just don’t think the discussion needs to happen that way. It needs to be ongoing. We need to be united around one message and that is to this small group of people who are involved in gang activity that we are not going to tolerate you acting out in this way, and in a sense, inviting other people in our community to act this way. We’re not going to live this way anymore.” Bloom said.

Ewell, who was seen taking notes during the meeting, said the emotion was palpable at the meeting and that he is following up on residents’ concerns.

In regards to notifying the community when crimes are committed, Ewell said he is looking into the feasibility of installing an automated message system that would speed dial homes in a certain area shortly after a crime has occurred.

In the end, Flo Benjamin, chair of the board, said division needed to be put aside in favor of working together.

“We need to make everyone accountable, including ourselves,” Benjamin said. “We have to change the thinking process to penetrate what’s already in place.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 19, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071906.pdf?ref=smdp.com)