For Immediate Release

Contact:
Contact: Eric Rose (805) 624-0572 or
Ryan Oliver (310) 854-8272

Los Angeles, February 24, 2009 – The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) is pleased that its work with the District Attorney and the Los Angeles Police Department in implementing an electronic subpoena program is now saving taxpayers millions of dollars per year.

In the interest of pursuing justice more efficiently and cost effectively, District Attorney Steve Cooley’s office worked with Chief Bratton and the LAPPL to execute the program, which distributes subpoenas to all Los Angeles Police Department officers via a secured internal e-mail. The move followed a successful pilot program tested at three LAPD divisions.

“Working with the LAPPL and Chief Bratton, the District Attorney's Office has moved into the 21st century and eliminated to an outdated process requiring days of costly preparation,” said Paul M. Weber, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League. “Previously, a deputy district attorney and police supervisors spent hours locating officers and serving them paper subpoenas to testify in court.

“Now subpoenas are delivered almost instantly to LAPD officers’ e-mail accounts, eliminating the need to personally locate each officer and hand-deliver each subpoena,” said Weber.

After opening the e-mail, the officer is prompted to acknowledge receipt of service. Because subpoenas are sent directly to officers and not physical locations, transfers and assignment changes no longer cause delays in service, reducing the number of no-shows and unnecessary trips to court by officers.

The system has been so successful that LAPD reported it saved more than $1 million in the first few months. Plans are underway to expand the system to include the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and municipal police departments.

“We’re excited about the program: it’s a win for the officers, the court system and the taxpayers,” concluded Weber.

About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,000 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com