INSIDE SCOOP
COMMENTARY
NATIONAL
GOOD TO BE GOODE PAGE 3 ‘THE VILLAGE OF THE CRAMMED’ PAGE 4 HONORING SITTING BULL’S BONES PAGE 8 Visit us online at smdp.com
MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007
Volume 6 Issue 186
Santa Monica Daily Press
MONDAY GOES ‘GREEN’ SEE PAGES 9 TO 11
Since 2001: A news odyssey
THE SHOUT OUT TO DAD ISSUE
Redesigning the old shield tesy SMPD
CITY HALL Elected officials have set aside $50,000 for the redesign and purchase of new police badges, a move that has drawn criticism from taxpayer groups who would rather see the money spent elsewhere, particularly since the current badges have been worn just a few years. City Councilman Ken Genser initially asked his colleagues to approve the expenditure last Tuesday, but when a vote was taken, Council members Bob Holbrook, Bobby Shriver and Pam O’Connor voted no, creating a 3-3 tie. Mayor Pro Tem Herb Katz was not present for the vote.
frequently by City Hall employees. Genser claims he was never made aware of the change back in 2003 and doesn’t believe his colleagues were either. The councilman feels that City Hall should be represented, since it is such a recognizable symbol, and that the Public Safety Facility on the badge sends the wrong message, perhaps inadvertently, that the police department is operating with autonomy. “Historically, at least in recent history, the police badges have always featured City Hall, a recognizable emblem of the people of the city, and all of a sudden, they featured the Public Safety building, which is not only one that people can’t recognize, but I think starts to foster that cou r
BY KEVIN HERRERA I Daily Press Staff Writer
Genser then suggested the money be set aside so the council could discuss the issue at a later date, a move supported by the majority. At the heart of the issue is whether or not the badge should include City Hall’s image, like Genser suggests, as well as if new badges are necessary at all, given that each of the city’s previous nine badges were worn a minimum of 11 years. The current badge, which was changed in 2003, features the new Public Safety Facility’s western façade, something that was done to commemorate the opening of that building, which now houses the police and fire departments, as well as meeting rooms used
Ph oto
New police badges may come at a higher price than expected
SEE BADGES PAGE 14
CATCH OF THE DAY
Fabian Lewkowicz fabianl@smdp.com Jose Hernandez casts his line during the 17th Annual Santa Monica Pier Father’s Day Fishing Derby on Sunday. He won the competition with a 21-pound Leopard Shark.
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339
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