A final salute given to Santa Monica’s top cop
FAIRMONT MIRAMAR — The big guns were out here last week when 500 people gathered to give Santa Monica’s retiring police chief a proper send off.
The “Community Salute” to James T. Butts Jr. attracted officials from the Santa Monica Police Department, and community members throughout the Los Angeles area, including former LA Police Chief Bernard Parks who is now an LA City Councilman.
The ballroom at the hotel on Wilshire Boulevard was packed with detectives, patrol officers and many former colleagues of Butts, who is retiring from the SMPD on Sept. 4 after 15 years of service. Butts announced in May that he will be leaving the SMPD to head up security and law enforcement at four airports in Los Angeles.
The tribute to the chief last Thursday began with an open bar cocktail reception at the Fairmont Miramar’s front entrance under the famous Moreton Bay fig tree. Hundreds of people milled about in the hotel’s circular driveway, sipping wine and reminiscing on Butt’s career in Santa Monica. There were plenty of hugs and well wishes for the chief, who attended the affair with his wife Judy and their three children, as well as other family members.
The high attendance was indicative of the relationships Butts, 53, has formed throughout his long career in law enforcement, as well as the work he and his police force have done in Santa Monica. Under Butts’ leadership, Santa Monica has experienced the lowest crime rate in 50 years.
Thursday’s event commanded $150 a ticket, with proceeds going to the Santa Monica Police Activities League, the Pico Youth and Family Center, Santa Monica Explorers, the Santa Monica Boys and Girls Club, the Inglewood Police Activities League and Inglewood Explorers.
FOX 11 news anchor James Beard, who served as the master of ceremonies for the evening, joked that the high attendance and the fact that there was a wait list spoke volumes on Butts’ influence.
“Something tells me you were charging enough for the tickets,”Beard joked. “They either really love you or they are really glad to see you go.”
Beard, who kiddingly referred Butts as the “emperor,” put the joking aside when he noted that Santa Monica’s reputation for having an incredible police force does not go unnoticed throughout the country.
The 3 1/2 hour program began with Butts’ daughter, Ashley, leading the room with the pledge of allegiance as the honor guard marched to the front. Attendees listened to speeches from more than two dozen people while dining on endive salad, chicken and salmon, sweet potatoes, cheesecake and free-flowing wine. Butts’ colleagues spoke of their admiration and respect for him — as an individual and as a professional.
Representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the LA County probation office, the DA’s office; the police chiefs in Pasadena and Long beach; several Santa Monica and LA government officials; the Santa Monica fire chief and LA Sheriff Lee Baca were just some of the people who spoke about their experiences with Butts.
Santa Monica City Manager Lamont Ewell lamented about losing a great leader, pointing to Butts’ dedication to law enforcement and to the community. But Santa Monica’s loss will be Los Angeles World Airports’ gain.
“We are all safer now that you are taking that job,” said LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl. “We have a real cop at the airport now.”
Butts took the job for a new challenge, which he surely will face considering the terrorism scares of late. When the alleged terrorist plot to blow up transatlantic airliners from Britain to the United States was foiled earli-er this month, Butts spent personal time coordinating heightened security efforts at LAX and the other airports.
As Deputy Executive Director of Airport Law Enforcement and Protection Services for Los Angeles World Airports, Butts will oversee the nation’s largest airport law enforcement and security organization. He will be responsible for leading the more than 1,200 sworn and civilian personnel assigned to protect and serve at Los Angeles World Airports’four airports — Los Angeles International (LAX), Ontario International (ONT), Palmdale Regional (PMD) and Van Nuys (VNY). LAX, ONT and PMD serve more than 68 million passengers a year while VNY is the world busiest general aviation airport.
Butts will lead the LAWA police and security forces assigned to the airports,as well as assume a pivotal role in collaborating and coordinating law enforcement and security duties performed by more than 4,000 federal and local officers. The largest of those outside agencies include the Transportation Security Administration, which includes 2,000 transportation security officers, and Customs and Border Protection, which has 800 sworn officers. At the salute, a video presentation highlighted Butts’ life — from his childhood in North Carolina and his career in law enforcement, which began in 1972 as a community safety officer in the Inglewood Police Department. Before becoming SMPD police chief in 1991, Butts served nearly 20 years at the Inglewood Police Department as a police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief. He has 12 years experience in SWAT as an operator, team leader and commander.
Butts’ departure was capped off on Saturday with a community barbecue at Virginia Avenue Park in the Pico neighborhood where a couple hundred people attended. Butts spent time shaking hands with residents, youth and community members while chowing down on hot dogs.
“This is not a good-bye, this is a farewell,” Butts said to the crowd. “LAX is only 7.9 mile away and I plan on coming to Santa Monica often.”
It hasn’t been decided who will take Butts’ job or who will serve as interim police chief. Ewell said on Thursday that a brochure advertising the position is in its final draft and will be sent to the Sacramento-based recruiting firm of Peckham & McKenney as early as this week. Then a national search, as well as consideration of at least three candidates within the SMPD will be conducted. Ewell expects to make a selection on the new police chief in late October and an interim chief later this month or early September.
Ewell and the recruiting firm will assemble three panels comprised of residents, the business community, and three high-ranking city officials to give input on what qualities the next police chief should possess. Members of all neighborhood associations will be consulted, Ewell said, along with the Human Relations Commission.
Many community members, including the Santa Monica Police Officers Association, would like to see someone hired from within the department. The candidates being considered are Capt. Mark Smiley, Capt. Jacqueline Seabrooks and Deputy Chief Phil Sanchez.
The salary for the next police chief ranges from $151,856 to $187,476. Butts currently makes $177,000 as SMPD’s chief.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 21, 2006. Read the original PDF.