In a room filled to capacity, the Culver City Rotary Club and Exchange Club hosted a luncheon to recognize the Culver City Police Department for its service to the community.
‘We have developed a close relationship with each other over the years and once a year, just before the big game between USC and UCLA, we have a big party,” Rotary Club President Joel Forman said. “In the past we talked about putting something together. So their president Jay, offered to help and we put it together.”
Honored at the luncheon were Sergeant Aubrey Kellum, Detective Ryan Thompson, Parking Administrator Dianne Gifford, as well as Police Explorer Scouts Miranda Myers, Jonathan Loughlin and Yiskah Israel-Everett.
“I’d like to thank the Exchange Club and Rotary Club for putting on this event to honor some of our people,” Culver City Chief of Police Scott Bixby said. “I can tell you the selection process was not easy and in my view we do have the best and brightest people in law enforcement. That goes from sworn personnel and our civilian staff. We have an outstanding department.”
At the co-sponsored the luncheon, Chief Bixby acknowledged the accomplishments of each individual honored but took time to highlight the department’s overall efficiency.
“Our measures of effectiveness and core objectives are response times; we know that when you call the police department you want somebody there yesterday so we pride ourselves in a response time of three minutes in emergency calls,” Chief Bixby said. “Case clearance is also something we pride ourselves in and we have a fifty percent case clearance, which is double the national average and we are proud of that.
“Also important to us is an efficient flow of traffic and effective parking enforcement program, as is the reduction and prevention of crime,” Chief Bixby said. “Last and not least is good morale among our people. The department strives to accomplish these goals via the five Ps: to be proactive, pride, passion, professionalism, and partnership with the community and this is just one way that we try to partner with the community.”