Former Los Angeles police chief and state senator Ed Davis was known for his “dry wit, plain speaking, and innovative ideas that are now standard in police departments nationwide,” says the Los Angeles Times. A memorial service for Davis, who died at 89 last month, was held yesterday. Davis, chief from 1969 to 1978, never seemed fazed by the “Crazy Ed” nicknam hung on him by detractors. He came up with such breakthrough concepts as Neighborhood Watch.
Davis’s ideas included what became known as the Basic Car Plan, in which police officers were assigned small geographical areas and told to learn what most concerned the residents there. Between Neighborhood Watch and the Basic Car Plan, Davis created what was considered the most extensive community-based policing program in the U.S.
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-eddavis5may05,1,2043168.story?coll=la-headlines-california