Matthew J. Ruff Criminal Law Blog on Lawyers.com

The LAPD chief William J. Bratton is expected to announce plans to resign as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department today to take over as head of a private security firm, sources have told The Times. Bratton is expected to announce his decision at a noon press conference today. As a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney I can attest to the strong public sentiment that expresses a disagreement of his retirement.  The chief did not return several calls seeking comment.  The very controversial decision by Bratton, who has dramatically reshaped the LAPD and pushed down crime rates since taking over in 2002, took the city’s political and police leadership by surprise.  As the LAPD chief flew back to Los Angeles from a personal trip to New York Tuesday night, aides to his boss, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, said Villaraigosa knew nothing of the planned departure.  Also in accord,  members of the civilian panel that oversees the LAPD, as well as the deputy and assistant chiefs whom Bratton entrusts with the day-to-day operations of the department, were caught off-guard when asked about Bratton’s imminent resignation.