KTLA News: "First Los Angeles County Housing Authority officers graduate..." (1972)

s number of your weapons. Well, approximately um two years ago, the uh TAB board, which is the tenant advisory board of the Mavia project for the county of Los Angeles, uh they they they they felt there was a need to curtail the spiraling crime rate in the community area where they live and they felt they needed a special type of an individual who was sensitive to the needs of the community and had knowledge of the lifestyle. So they approached the U board of commissioners for the county housing authority and they were very receptive to the idea and it's through them that this program actually started. They they should be given the the pat on the back because they gave the green light. >> The cadets met with family and friends after the formal inspection and the six cadetses will report to duty in one week at the Maravia project in East Los Angeles. Stan Chambers reporting from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Academy. It's 1 2 3 4 1 hey Ready. Ready. >> Inspection. >> Arms. >> Fire platoon. First squad. Order. >> Arms. King 1605. Sir. >> What's 459 of the pen? >> 459 of the penal code of burglary. >> What is 211 of the penal code? It's 211 latino code is robbery. >> It's 11530 of the health and safety code. >> 11530 of the health and safety code is possession of marijuana. >> How do you feel about this big moment today? >> Oh, I think it's fantastic. I just I'm just shivering. My heart's just pounding. I'm so glad that my husband finally got what he wanted. >> What was he doing before? He was working at um as a jeweler and uh it was a sit down job and uh he just couldn't stand sitting down. He had to get up and move around. So he went to a pump company and um it was another sit down job. he was working as a junior industrial engineer and he just didn't just didn't like it because he had to sit down so much and and it was a white collar job and everything and uh he's always wanted to work with people anyway and be able to uh get some action into his life and I think this is just exactly what he wanted all the time >> and is he pretty pleased about it. >> Oh yes he is and so am I. >> Where was he raised? >> He was raised in New York City in uh where was it? Jackson Hides and uh in the projects so he knows what he's in for. Do >> you think he'll be a big help to the other boys growing up? >> Oh yes, most definitely. Yes. He he has had the experience of growing up in it and he'll know what to expect. Thank you. How do you feel? >> Just great. >> Was it a tough grind? >> Uh, it was tough, but uh I don't think I'd trade it for anything. It's was hard, but it was good. Uh, >> what does it mean to you now? >> It means uh just about everything. Uh, means a brand new career. Uh, just about a brand new life. means everything. >> Well, you enjoy working with the uh the boys and the girls in the project. >> Oh, yes. >> You think you can help them? >> Oh, I hope so. I've worked with the kids when I was younger, and I just hope I can do a good a job or perhaps better. I don't know. I'm just all I can do is try. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> How did this project get started? executive director and the main problem was who are we going to select? Well, they knew that uh to just hire a security agency from private enterprise or something like this would not do the trick. They needed a special highly trained professional individual. So, they looked around and they finally found that maybe it'd be best to hire somebody from the actual area here. They would know what's happening. some young men that are that are that are uh have the positive attitudes and and and really could do some good. So, we looked around and we found them. Now, the problem was what are we going to do about training them? We contacted uh the sheriff's department, Peter J. Pitches, and uh after discussing that over with our executive and the commission, he opened the doors for us and allowed us to come up here. And the hat should go off to Mr. pitches also because this is a first and uh we're very proud to say we we're very grateful to have come to this academy. I graduated from this academy 12 years ago myself. So I know that this is the best that could be offered and that's what I wanted for my men and they got it. >> Was this a pretty tough grind for them? >> Yes, it was. As I understand this is one of the uh top classes to graduate and so naturally it was kind of rough for my men to start off in it but they made it.