William J. Bratton
Encyclopedia
William Joseph "Bill" Bratton CBE
(born October 6, 1947) is an American law enforcement officer who served as the chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department
(LAPD), New York City Police Commissioner
, and Boston Police
Commissioner.
Bratton began his police career at Boston Police Department before becoming Police Commissioner in New York City, where his zero-tolerance policy has been credited with reducing petty and violent crime. He moved to Los Angeles Police Department in 2001 reforming the police after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
and crime was reduced.
Bratton's policing style is influenced by the broken windows theory that if minor, petty crime is not dealt with, crime will increase. He advocates having an ethnically diverse police force representative of the population, maintaining a strong relationship with the law-abiding population, tackling police corruption, being tough on gangs and a strict no-tolerance of anti-social behaviour.
Bratton was approached by British Prime Minister David Cameron
to become the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner in July 2011, but this was blocked by the Home Office
on the grounds the Commissioner must be a British national with experience of English law. Bratton instead was offered an advisor role to the British government which he accepted in August 2011.
during the Vietnam War
, returning to Boston in 1970 to start a police
career in the Boston Police Department
. He quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1980, at the age of 32 and ten years after his appointment to the BPD
, Bratton was named as the youngest-ever Executive Superintendent of the Boston Police, the department's second highest post. He was dismissed as executive superintendent after he told a journalist that his goal was to be the Police Commissioner. He was reassigned to the position of Inspector of Bureaus, a sinecure
which was responsible for liaison with minority and LGBTQ communities. He was later brought back into police headquarters to handle labor relations and 911
related issues.
Between 1983 and 1986 Bratton was Chief of Police for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
, following which he became Superintendent
of Boston's Metropolitan District Commission Police. In 1990, he was appointed Chief of Police of the New York City Transit Police
. Bratton was Superintendent in Chief of the Boston Police Department
from 1991 until 1993, then he became that city's 34th Police Commissioner. He holds the Department's highest award
for valor.
In 1994, William Bratton was appointed the 38th Commissioner of the NYPD by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. He cooperated with Giuliani in putting the broken windows theory into practice. He had success in this position, and introduced the CompStat
system of tracking crimes, which proved successful in reducing crime in New York City
and is still used to this day. A new tax surcharge enabled the training and deployment of around 5,000 new better-educated police officers, police decision-making was devolved to precinct level, and a backlog of 50,000 unserved warrants was cleared. The CompStat
real-time police intelligence computer system was effectively introduced and integrated. Police numbers were further boosted in 1995 when New York's housing and transit police were merged into the New York Police Department.
Bratton resigned in 1996, while under investigation by the Corporation Counsel for the propriety of a book deal that he signed while in office as well as accepting multiple unauthorized trips from corporations and individuals. These were offenses considered minor by many (Giuliani later allowed subsequent Commissioner Bernard Kerik
to be let off with a slap on the wrist after nearly identical offenses). Front and center however, were alleged personal conflicts with Giuliani, partly due to Giuliani's opposition to some of Bratton's reforms and partly due to Giuliani's belief that Bratton was getting more credit for the reduction in crime than Giuliani was.
The experiences of Bratton and New York Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Maple
were used as the inspiration of the television series The District
.
, also known as LAPD's Independent Monitor, until his appointment by Mayor of Los Angeles James Hahn
as the LAPD's 54th Chief of Police in October 2002. Bratton was one of three candidates recommended to Hahn by the Los Angeles Police Commission under Commission President Rick J. Caruso
.Under Bratton's tenure, crime within the city dropped for six consecutive years. On June 19, 2007, the LA Police Commission reappointed William Bratton to a second five-year term, the first reappointment of an LAPD chief in almost twenty years.
Bratton has been criticized for his extensive travel; in 2005, he was out of town for a full third of the year on both official and personal business.
In March 2009, Councilman Herb Wesson
proposed an amendment to the City Charter, allowing Bratton to serve a third consecutive term as Police Chief.
In Chapter 8 of Punishing the Poor (published by Duke University Press) sociologist Loic Wacquant summarizes the evidence that Bratton's strategies did not lead to a drop in crime in New York City.
On 12 August 2011, Bratton said he was in talks with the British Government to become an advisor on controlling the violence that has affected that city
for the prior week. He said he received a phone call from U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron
, and that he will continue speaking with British officials to formalize an agreement. Prime Minister Cameron initially wanted to appoint Bratton Commissioner
of London
's Metropolitan Police Service
, but was overruled by Home Secretary
Theresa May
, who insisted that only a British citizen should be able to run the Service.
, serving as a Chairman of a new division where he would consult on security for police departments worldwide.
Bratton has stated that racial tensions and distrust of the police are hindrances to reducing crime. Bratton's solution in New York and Los Angeles was to make police forces more ethnically diverse and "reflect[ive of] the ethnic make-up of the cities."
in Law Enforcement from the University of Massachusetts Boston
and was a research fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
, Harvard University
.
Bratton has been married four times.
Bratton is married to attorney and TruTV analyst Rikki Klieman
, and has one son, David, from a prior marriage. Bratton was also formerly married to attorney and newscaster Cheryl Fiandaca.
In 1998, Random House published his memoir TURNAROUND: How America's Top Cop Reversed the Crime Epidemic, written with co-author Peter Knobler
. It was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Bratton addressed the Roger Williams University
graduating class at the May 22, 2010 commencement ceremony and also received an honorary degree during the ceremony.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born October 6, 1947) is an American law enforcement officer who served as the chief of police of the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
(LAPD), New York City Police Commissioner
New York City Police Commissioner
The New York City Police Commissioner is the head of the New York City Police Department, appointed by the Mayor of New York City. Governor Theodore Roosevelt, in one of his final acts before becoming Vice President of the United States in March 1901, signed legislation replacing the Police Board...
, and Boston Police
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
Commissioner.
Bratton began his police career at Boston Police Department before becoming Police Commissioner in New York City, where his zero-tolerance policy has been credited with reducing petty and violent crime. He moved to Los Angeles Police Department in 2001 reforming the police after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots
1992 Los Angeles riots
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots or South Central Riots, also known as the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest were sparked on April 29, 1992, when a jury acquitted three white and one hispanic Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King following a...
and crime was reduced.
Bratton's policing style is influenced by the broken windows theory that if minor, petty crime is not dealt with, crime will increase. He advocates having an ethnically diverse police force representative of the population, maintaining a strong relationship with the law-abiding population, tackling police corruption, being tough on gangs and a strict no-tolerance of anti-social behaviour.
Bratton was approached by British Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
to become the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner in July 2011, but this was blocked by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
on the grounds the Commissioner must be a British national with experience of English law. Bratton instead was offered an advisor role to the British government which he accepted in August 2011.
Boston
Bratton is native to the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Boston Technical High School, graduating in 1965. From there, he served in the Military Police Corps of the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, returning to Boston in 1970 to start a police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
career in the Boston Police Department
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
. He quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1980, at the age of 32 and ten years after his appointment to the BPD
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
, Bratton was named as the youngest-ever Executive Superintendent of the Boston Police, the department's second highest post. He was dismissed as executive superintendent after he told a journalist that his goal was to be the Police Commissioner. He was reassigned to the position of Inspector of Bureaus, a sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
which was responsible for liaison with minority and LGBTQ communities. He was later brought back into police headquarters to handle labor relations and 911
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
related issues.
Between 1983 and 1986 Bratton was Chief of Police for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
, following which he became Superintendent
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
of Boston's Metropolitan District Commission Police. In 1990, he was appointed Chief of Police of the New York City Transit Police
New York City Transit Police
The New York City Transit Police Department was a law enforcement agency in New York City that existed from 1953 to 1995. The roots of this organization go back to 1936 when Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia authorized the hiring of Special Patrolmen for the New York City Subway system...
. Bratton was Superintendent in Chief of the Boston Police Department
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
from 1991 until 1993, then he became that city's 34th Police Commissioner. He holds the Department's highest award
United States law enforcement decorations
United States law enforcement decorations are awarded by the police forces of the United States of America. Since the United States has a decentralized police force, with separate independent departments existing on the state and local level, there are literally thousands of law enforcement...
for valor.
New York City
Bratton became the chief of the New York City Transit Police Department in 1990. In 1991 the Transit Police gained national accreditation under the chief. The Department became one of only 175 law-enforcement agencies in the country and only the second in New York State to achieve that distinction. The following year it was also accredited by the State of New York, and by 1994, there were almost 4,500 uniformed and civilian members of the Department, making it the sixth largest police force in the United States. Bratton had left the NYC Transit Police returning to Boston in 1991 to head the Boston Police Department, a long-time ambition of his.In 1994, William Bratton was appointed the 38th Commissioner of the NYPD by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. He cooperated with Giuliani in putting the broken windows theory into practice. He had success in this position, and introduced the CompStat
CompStat
CompStat—or COMPSTAT— is the name given to the New York City Police Department's accountability process and has since been replicated in many other departments...
system of tracking crimes, which proved successful in reducing crime in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and is still used to this day. A new tax surcharge enabled the training and deployment of around 5,000 new better-educated police officers, police decision-making was devolved to precinct level, and a backlog of 50,000 unserved warrants was cleared. The CompStat
CompStat
CompStat—or COMPSTAT— is the name given to the New York City Police Department's accountability process and has since been replicated in many other departments...
real-time police intelligence computer system was effectively introduced and integrated. Police numbers were further boosted in 1995 when New York's housing and transit police were merged into the New York Police Department.
Bratton resigned in 1996, while under investigation by the Corporation Counsel for the propriety of a book deal that he signed while in office as well as accepting multiple unauthorized trips from corporations and individuals. These were offenses considered minor by many (Giuliani later allowed subsequent Commissioner Bernard Kerik
Bernard Kerik
Bernard Bailey "Bernie" Kerik is a former New York City Police Commissioner, Secretary of Homeland Security nominee, and now a federal felon. Kerik was New York City Police Commissioner from 2000 to 2001, under Mayor Rudy Giuliani. In December 2004, President George W. Bush nominated Kerik as...
to be let off with a slap on the wrist after nearly identical offenses). Front and center however, were alleged personal conflicts with Giuliani, partly due to Giuliani's opposition to some of Bratton's reforms and partly due to Giuliani's belief that Bratton was getting more credit for the reduction in crime than Giuliani was.
The experiences of Bratton and New York Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Maple
Jack Maple
Jack Maple served New York City as the Deputy Police Commissioner for Crime Control Strategies. He created the CompStat methodology of crime fighting and law enforcement strategy...
were used as the inspiration of the television series The District
The District
The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department .-Premise:...
.
Los Angeles
Bratton worked as a private consultant with Kroll AssociatesKroll Inc.
Kroll is a risk consultancy firm based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. and established in 1972.- History:Kroll was founded in 1972 by Jules B. Kroll as a consultant to corporate purchasing departments...
, also known as LAPD's Independent Monitor, until his appointment by Mayor of Los Angeles James Hahn
James Hahn
James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn is an American politician. Hahn was elected the 40th Mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He served until 2005, at which time he was defeated in his bid for re-election...
as the LAPD's 54th Chief of Police in October 2002. Bratton was one of three candidates recommended to Hahn by the Los Angeles Police Commission under Commission President Rick J. Caruso
Rick J. Caruso
Rick J. Caruso, founder and chief executive officer of Caruso Affiliated, is a developer and retail operator who has designed and built properties in Southern California...
.Under Bratton's tenure, crime within the city dropped for six consecutive years. On June 19, 2007, the LA Police Commission reappointed William Bratton to a second five-year term, the first reappointment of an LAPD chief in almost twenty years.
Bratton has been criticized for his extensive travel; in 2005, he was out of town for a full third of the year on both official and personal business.
In March 2009, Councilman Herb Wesson
Herb Wesson
Herb J. Wesson, Jr. is an American politician. He currently serves as a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 10th district. He served in the State Assembly representing the 47th district from 1998 until 2004. He served as Speaker of the California State Assembly from 2002 until 2004...
proposed an amendment to the City Charter, allowing Bratton to serve a third consecutive term as Police Chief.
In Chapter 8 of Punishing the Poor (published by Duke University Press) sociologist Loic Wacquant summarizes the evidence that Bratton's strategies did not lead to a drop in crime in New York City.
United Kingdom
On September 11, 2009, he was awarded with the honorary title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II "in recognition of his work to promote cooperation between US and UK police throughout his distinguished career."On 12 August 2011, Bratton said he was in talks with the British Government to become an advisor on controlling the violence that has affected that city
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
for the prior week. He said he received a phone call from U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, and that he will continue speaking with British officials to formalize an agreement. Prime Minister Cameron initially wanted to appoint Bratton Commissioner
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is the head of London's Metropolitan Police Service, classing the holder as a chief police officer...
of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
, but was overruled by Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
Theresa May
Theresa May
Theresa Mary May is a British Conservative politician who is Home Secretary in the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition government. She was elected to Parliament in 1997 as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, and served as the Chairman of the Conservative Party, 2003–04...
, who insisted that only a British citizen should be able to run the Service.
Altegrity
On August 5, 2009, Bratton announced that after nearly seven years he would be stepping down as chief of police for the City of Los Angeles, and he continued to serve as chief until October 31, 2009. Bratton moved back to New York City to take a position with private international security firm Altegrity Risk InternationalAltegrity Risk International
Altegrity Risk International is a New York City based global risk consulting and information services company. A subsidiary of Altegrity, Inc. of Falls Church, VA, ARI provides investigations, business intelligence, forensic accounting, compliance & monitoring and security services to businesses...
, serving as a Chairman of a new division where he would consult on security for police departments worldwide.
Kroll
Bratton became the Chairman of Kroll, one of Altegrity, Inc.’s three core businesses, on 16 September 2010. Mr. Bratton had joined Altegrity in November 2009.Policing style
In New York, Bratton adopted a zero tolerance policing policy from 1990. This manner of policing has won plaudits and criticism, but the implementation of zero tolerance policy coincided with a reduction of petty and serious crime in New York by 2001.Bratton has stated that racial tensions and distrust of the police are hindrances to reducing crime. Bratton's solution in New York and Los Angeles was to make police forces more ethnically diverse and "reflect[ive of] the ethnic make-up of the cities."
Personal life
He holds a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Law Enforcement from the University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Boston
The University of Massachusetts Boston, also known as UMass Boston, is an urban public research university and the second largest campus in the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university is located on on Harbor Point in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
and was a research fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Bratton has been married four times.
Bratton is married to attorney and TruTV analyst Rikki Klieman
Rikki Klieman
Rikki Klieman is an American criminal defense lawyer and TV personality for TruTV. A native of Chicago, she worked in criminal defense in Boston and taught at Columbia Law School before moving to the entertainment field...
, and has one son, David, from a prior marriage. Bratton was also formerly married to attorney and newscaster Cheryl Fiandaca.
In 1998, Random House published his memoir TURNAROUND: How America's Top Cop Reversed the Crime Epidemic, written with co-author Peter Knobler
Peter Knobler
Peter Knobler is an American writer living in New York City. He has collaborated on several national best sellers and was the editor-in-chief of Crawdaddy magazine from 1972 to 1979.- Writing :...
. It was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Bratton addressed the Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University, commonly abbreviated as RWU, is a private, coeducational American liberal arts university located on in Bristol, Rhode Island, above Mt. Hope Bay. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams...
graduating class at the May 22, 2010 commencement ceremony and also received an honorary degree during the ceremony.
External links
- On the Front Line in the War on Terrorism, City Journal, Summer 2007
- LAPD: William J. Bratton Biography
- William Bratton speaks out against concealed carry
- "Ask the Chief" - Southern California Public Radio (KPCC) Interview May 16, 2007 focusing on the MacArthur Park Demonstrations and Bratton's reappointment as LAPD's Chief (Real Audio)
- Harvard Business Review article: Tipping Point Leadership by W. Chan Kim and Renee A. Mauborgne