Crime & Safety

Hollywood CPAB 'Top Level of Quality,' Continuing to be Proactive, Community Leader Says

The Community Police Advisory Board is working toward a potential for a public/private partnership in nighttime security for Hollywood Boulevard

The Hollywood Community Police Advisory Board met Tuesday for an update on what’s been happening with the police department this month.

While the meeting usually starts off with crime statistics, Captain Beatrice Girmala wasn’t present at the meeting so community member Gary Minzer summarized what most attendees were already familiar with including the robbery spree that occurred in mid July.

What most people didn’t already know was that Girmala had coincidentally scheduled a vacation during that time and elected not to go.

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“She decided it was in the best interest of Hollywood and serving the community not to take it,” Minzer said. “Hollywood is a 24-hour community and it necessitates additional resources. (Girmala) has been so proactive in covering all the bases to try to deal with the issues we’re confronted with.”

Minzer also talked about the 2013 Hollywood Police Commission presentation in which the Hollywood CPAB (along with the rest of the CPAB's in the City) is asked to update the commission on the happenings in the Hollywood Community. He said the Hollywood CPAB is “proactive” compared to other CPAB’s in the area and “top of the level of quality for CPAB’s in the City.”

Find out what's happening in Hollywoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In collaboration with the Hollywood Entertainment District (the Hollywood Boulevard Business Improvement District), Minzer said they are trying to develop a private/public partnership relative to a nighttime security program.

Although it’s moving slowly, Minzer said “we are working on it.” The BID has currently completed its budget and therefore “their hands are tied to some extent.” It’s not just a matter of finding the funding but someone also has to administrate the program.

“While the economy may have its ebbs and flows, Hollywood continues to thrive,” Minzer said. “The department has (so many) officers and it’s not just like every day we can grab officers from another division. (It’s) all about resources.”

The Hollywood CPAB will meet next on September 24 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Hollywood Neighborhood City Hall located at 6501 Fountain Ave.  


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