By Mary O’KEEFE

Carl Povilaitis is well into his job as chief of police for the Glendale Police Dept. Povilaitis was appointed as interim chief on Dec. 30, 2017 after the departure/retirement of Chief Robert Castro, who held the position for four years. He was officially made chief of police on May 1.

Unlike Castro, who came from outside of the GPD family, Povilaitis has been a hometown cop since 1991. He knows the community and, as an officer, has worked in all parts of the city including the far north Glendale area.

“One thing that I had put in a message to the [GPD officers] was I wanted to enhance our community engagement,” Povilaitis said.

Residents of Crescenta Valley have seen Povilaitis at several events before and after his promotion to chief. He is familiar with the unusual make up of the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County-La Crescenta and the far north Glendale area. Because he has been with GPD for 26 years, he has worked with all the law enforcement agencies throughout CV, including the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. and California Highway Patrol.

“When I worked up there as a younger officer, way back in the day, I used to routinely [meet with] deputies who were working the adjoining sections,” he said. “Crime doesn’t know borders.”

He added that working with law enforcement agencies that border the city is important.

Povilaitis said he wants the community to know not only his face but the faces of GPD overall.

“We have a lot of good people here who do a lot of good things,” Povilaitis said. He referred to Sir Robert Peel, who is known as the father of modern policing. Peel reorganized the London police force through what is now called the “Peelian principles,” which is policing by consent. The philosophy highlights police working with the community it serves, and that police are seen as citizens of the community.

In recent years, GPD had changed its community policing to assigning police in areas where they are most needed and being less proactive in areas with fewer crimes. This was something that was often criticized by members of the community, including the Montrose Shopping Park Association. Povilaitis said future deployment of officers will be with an eye on prevention. With the increasing homeless population and concerns of gun violence in schools, law enforcement is using every tool it has to be proactive, and to work with other agencies.

“We have had a set [of standard protocols for emergencies like active shooters] with Glendale Unified School District for decades,” he said. “[Police] are trained in threat assessment.”

The GPD and Glendale Fire Dept. update their plans and work closely with GUSD.

“We go to table-top exercises,” he said. “The fire and police departments work well together.”

Povilaitis said Prop 47 and Prop 57 have also increased crime in Glendale and throughout the state. Prop 47 was passed by California voters in 2014. It reduced many felonies to misdemeanors, including some crimes of drug possession, theft and those receiving stolen property. This means more people convicted for these crimes are back on the street sooner after being arrested, and some of those people are homeless. Prop 57 allows the parole board to release what it deems as nonviolent prisoners once they have served their sentence.

Often those arrested and released will be back on the street only to be arrested again for the same type of crime. Povilaitis added that is why it is important to not only know well the neighborhoods of the city but to have strong communication with nearby agencies.

“We are [always] exchanging information,” he said of the relationship with other agencies.

Like most other law enforcement agencies, GPD is actively recruiting. It is looking for those who want to serve as officers in addition to police communication/dispatchers, records and jail personnel. It is especially interested in hiring people who are bilingual in English and Armenian or English and Korean.

Povilaitis explained that there are many opportunities to work with police.

“There are other paths [of law enforcement] including forensics,” he said, adding he is focusing on recruiting to train the next generation.

Overall his plan during his term as chief will be to maintain the working relationships the department has with the community and other agencies, and to build on those relationships to make them stronger.

“If you ever think you are done building relationships in the community, you’re not,” he said.

For those interested in a career in GPD, visit www.glendaleca.gov.

  Mary Okeefe