LA Police Commission Elects Commissioner Briggs As President

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Police Commission unanimously elected Commissioner William Briggs to serve as its president Tuesday, and said current President Eileen Decker will serve as vice president.

"I am honored to serve my city in leading the Police Commission as president and working with my colleagues to continue building upon the successes lead by my predecessor, Commissioner Eileen Decker. The city faces many complex challenges, and I am eager to work towards the expansion, development, and reinforcement of our public safety efforts," Briggs said.

Briggs, a trial lawyer and civil litigator who mostly works in the entertainment industry, was appointed to the commission in 2020 by Mayor Eric Garcetti. His previous experience in civic affairs includes serving on the Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System commission, which he was appointed to in 2014.

Briggs is a partner at Venable LLP and has also worked in state and federal courtrooms across various practices of law, including disputes that involve trademarks, defamation and the First Amendment.

The civilian police commission consists of Briggs and Decker along with Dale Bonner, Maria Calanche and Steve Soboroff. In 2019, Decker, who has served on the commission since 2018, became the first woman president in the commission's history.

"I am committed to continuing to build partnerships with diverse communities we serve to improve the safety of our neighborhoods," Decker said Tuesday. "It is important we continue focusing on building trust. I look forward to working with Commissioner Briggs towards a shared vision for public safety in Los Angeles."

The police commission's president serves for a year and can be elected an additional time for a maximum of two years.

The five-person commission serves as the head of the department, similar to a corporation's board of directors. It sets the department's policies and oversees its operations. The commission holds public meetings, currently virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.

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--City News Service