Candace Brady

Maybe one day, Los Angeles Police Capt. Candace Brady says hopefully, this won't be such a novelty. Maybe there will be many more women in the top ranks of the nation's third-largest police department. Then other women won't have to be pioneers like Brady: the first woman vice detective, the first woman prosecutor at Internal Affairs and now, one of only three women captains citywide.

Maybe one day, Los Angeles Police Capt. Candace Brady says hopefully, this won't be such a novelty. Maybe there will be many more women in the top ranks of the nation's third-largest police department. Then other women won't have to be pioneers like Brady: the first woman vice detective, the first woman prosecutor at Internal Affairs and now, one of only three women captains citywide.

Following a recommendation made by the Christopher Commission more than five years ago, Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams on Thursday presided over a public open house at a new Valley satellite office of the department's Internal Affairs Division. The office, located in a building at 15545 Devonshire St. in the Foothill Division, opened its doors in July, officials said, to provide Valley residents with better access to the LAPD unit responsible for investigating officers.

Judi Kaufman Beverly Hills, 64, community activist and retired business owner. Diagnosed with: Brain cancer 15 years ago. Had a recurrence and second surgery in 2002 and a third recurrence this year. What cancer inspired her to do: Kaufman describes herself as a creative person and lifelong caregiver. But after learning she had cancer, she felt a wave of insecurity over her identity.