Ted Cooke

On his last day as Culver City's police chief, Ted Cooke shook a few hands, made a couple of last jokes and quietly slipped out of department headquarters. The longest-serving, still-active police chief in California at the time -- with 27 years as head of the Culver City Police Department -- was ending his career. There would be no group pictures. No long speeches. No tearful goodbyes. No one expected anything more.

On his last day as Culver City's police chief, Ted Cooke shook a few hands, made a couple of last jokes and quietly slipped out of department headquarters. The longest-serving, still-active police chief in California at the time -- with 27 years as head of the Culver City Police Department -- was ending his career. There would be no group pictures. No long speeches. No tearful goodbyes. No one expected anything more.

Culver City is surrounded by five of Los Angeles' busiest police divisions, plus Inglewood, and they've all had explosions of crime. And yet we've had less crime for 14 out of the last 15 years--44% less violent crime last year than we had in 1980. We're probably the only city in the county that's had that kind of an impact on crime. Crime's not that difficult. You need swiftness of apprehension and certainty of punishment. The only thing that is marginally effective in addition to that is a juvenile-diversion program.

Culver City is surrounded by five of Los Angeles' busiest police divisions, plus Inglewood, and they've all had explosions of crime. And yet we've had less crime for 14 out of the last 15 years--44% less violent crime last year than we had in 1980. We're probably the only city in the county that's had that kind of an impact on crime. Crime's not that difficult. You need swiftness of apprehension and certainty of punishment. The only thing that is marginally effective in addition to that is a juvenile-diversion program.

Ted Cook, 58, who arranged Tahitian tours for more than 100,000 travelers. Educated at Cal State Long Beach, Cook was a geologist in aerospace with North American Rockwell when he decided in 1964 that he needed a vacation. A friend suggested Tahiti, and Cook began a lifelong love affair with the South Pacific. He quit aerospace, moved aboard a boat in Long Beach and set up an office at the nearby pay phone, dubbing his new venture "Islands in the Sun."

A federal judge this week cleared the way for a constitutional challenge to a Culver City Police Department policy that limits the ability of citizens to register complaints of police brutality or misconduct. U.S. District Court Judge David Kenyon ruled Monday that he would hear a lawsuit alleging that the Police Department has an unconstitutional policy of refusing to take charges of misconduct if the incident has been described in police reports.

Bicycle-riding police officers will patrol the Ballona bike path throughout the summer, according to Police Chief Ted Cooke. Regulation uniforms have been temporarily replaced by blue shorts, white shirts and tennis shoes. The officers are members of the department's Crime Impact Team.

Crime in Culver City has decreased 4% during the past seven months contrasted with the same period last year, according to Police Chief Ted Cooke. Since January, rapes have declined by 33%, robberies by 23% and burglaries from motor vehicles by 13%. Cooke also said that 33% of the major crimes committed in the past seven months have been solved.

Bicycle-riding police officers are patrolling the bike path along La Ballona Creek as a precautionary measure, according to Police Chief Ted Cooke. Cooke said two juveniles have been arrested during the patrols. One was riding a bicycle stolen about a year ago and the other was riding a bicycle taken during a robbery at knifepoint. Detectives said the second suspect may be connected to at least two other robberies that occurred on the bike path this year.

The Police Department warns that a caller soliciting donations for the department is an impostor. The caller, who claims to represent the Culver City Police Union, tells residents that police response time will be affected if they do not make donations. Police Chief Ted Cooke said the Culver City Police Officers Assn. is not seeking contributions and has not contracted with an outside company to solicit funds.

Ted Cook, 58, who arranged Tahitian tours for more than 100,000 travelers. Educated at Cal State Long Beach, Cook was a geologist in aerospace with North American Rockwell when he decided in 1964 that he needed a vacation. A friend suggested Tahiti, and Cook began a lifelong love affair with the South Pacific. He quit aerospace, moved aboard a boat in Long Beach and set up an office at the nearby pay phone, dubbing his new venture "Islands in the Sun."

Violent crime in Culver City dropped 8% and repressible crimes dropped 10% during the first 11 months of 1985, according to Police Chief Ted Cooke. Violent crimes include robbery, aggravated assault, forcible rape and homicide. Repressible crimes are burglary, grand theft and burglary and theft from a motor vehicle. Cooke said this is the fifth consecutive year that crime has dropped in Culver City.