Palisades-News-June-3-2015-

June 3, 2015 Palisades News Page 9West L.A. Captain Nathan RetiresBy SUE PASCOEEditorCaptain Evangelyn Nathan, the AreaCommanding Officer of the WestLos Angeles Community PoliceDepartment, retired at the end of April.Captain Tina Nieto is her replacement.“A huge thank you to the West Los Angelescommunity and especially to PacificPalisades,” Nathan told the Palisades Newsbefore speaking at the Woman’s Club dinnermeeting in May. “You have been awesome.”After commanding 323 officers and 31civilian personnel, in an area that serves apopulation of more than 257,000 and 65square miles and 748 street miles (the largestmileage of any LAPD department), Nathan’sfirst retirement task seemed calm.“My family has signed me up to takecare of an 11-year-old niece and 9-yearoldnephew,” said Nathan, who is also acertified Master Gardener. “I just finishedredoing the yard with artificial turf, goingwater-wise, and now my brother and sisterwanted me to help them, too.“I still get calls from work: my scheduleis still busy,” said Nathan, the first African-American woman to earn a LAPD commandposition. “I figure in six months itwill slow down.”She was asked if the Wednesday nightmotorcycle noise will ever abate on Sunset.“Not all of the motorcyclists are violatingthe law,” she said. “I feel bad forthose who live on Sunset because thenoise can be deafening.”Nathan said one possible solution mightbe to post signs that are the same as thoseseen when patrons leave a concert area, askingfor compassion for those who live inthe area. The flashing signs could be usedto remind all motorists about noise, includingmotorcyclists.Later at the Woman’s Club podium,Nathan spoke about entering LAPD andthe challenges facing her.She received a bachelor’s degree in businessadministration from Cal State Domin -guez Hills, and frequently ran 10K races.She had just finished one and went by anCaptain Evangelyn Nathan, the Area Commanding Officer of West Los Angeles CommunityPolice Department, who retired at the end of April, was honored at the PacificPalisades Woman’s Club.Photo: Bart BartholomewLAPD recruiting table that was offeringfree water. Nathan took the water, but insteadof trying to recruit her, he said “Youwouldn’t make it out of the academy becauseyou would flunk out.”“Give me that card,” Nathan said, acceptingthe challenge. She explained thatthe attitude in 1981 was “women don’t belonghere.”Nathan said in the late 1800s to be a policeofficer you needed to be a 6’5” male.Gradually the height requirement droppedand by 1981, it was 5’8”, which Nathan made.Nathan said her career was possible becauseof two women, Alice Stebbins Wellsand Franchon Blake.Wells petitioned the mayor, police commissionerand the City Council to becomethe first woman officer. Hired in 1910, shewas assigned to aid women and childrenwho were victims of crime.Wells, who had to make her own uniform,could not supervise men and was notallowed to be promoted past sergeant. Overthe next five or six decades, a few additionalwomen were hired.LAPD Officer Blake, a 5-foot-tall Armymajor, wanted to become a lieutenant. Shetook her complaints to Police Chief Ed Davis,who told her he would put women in patrolcars—when Rams Coach Tommy Prothroput them on the football team’s front line.Finally, Blake filed a lawsuit in 1973, knowingshe would be targeted in the workplace.“And she was,” Nathan said. When thecase was finally resolved in 1980, the LAPDagreed to increase the number of swornwomen officers to 20 percent and the minorityrepresentation to equal the minority representationin the Los Angeles work force.Nathan entered the LAPD academy thefollowing year with 35 women in a class of99. Every week more women dropped out.“It was one of the biggest challenges I everfaced,” Nathan said. “Eventually five of uspartnered together—and whined together.”In order to make it out of the academy, recruitshad to pass the self-defense test, whichmeant having to free yourself from the otherperson, doing whatever it took to get away.Nathan’s partner was Jim McDonald(who was elected as L.A. County’s 32ndsheriff last November). She told him beforethe test, “I love you, but I apologize for whatI’m going to do to you today.”She bit him; she passed. “The other twowomen did something to their partnersthey hadn’t been taught in academy, either,”Nathan said, noting that only fivewomen graduated.Nathan completed her initial probationat 77th Street Patrol Division, followed byassignments to Wilshire patrol, narcoticsand recruitment.She worked the West Los Angeles ViceUnit from 1985-87, 77th Street DetectiveDivision from 1987-89. In 1992 she wasupgraded to Detective II and assigned toInternal Affairs. Two years later she madeDetective III and was assigned to the Officeof the Chief of Police. She was promotedto Lieutenant in 2000 and wasassigned as Watch Commander for thePacific Patrol Division.In 2002, Nathan was assigned as the Officer-in-Chargeof Operations-South BureauHomicide Task Force. A year later, shewas upgraded to Lieutenant II and assignedas the 77th Street Detective Division CommandingOfficer. She was a 2006 inducteeinto the Los Angeles Police Revolver andAthletic Club, Athletic Hall of Fame and inApril 2007 came to the Westside.Nathan told Woman’s Club members:“We have to support each other. If we comewith a complaint, bring a suggestion to gowith it. Make sure you balance our life, seekspirituality and share. Give more than youtake and laugh often and laugh loudly.”She concluded, “Don’t forget we arewomen, we are amazing. In the LAPD, theterminology changed from policeman andthen policewoman to now, police officer.”Gotta love agood comboTrish Bowe CLU, AgentInsurance Lic#: 0606059845 Via De La PazPacific Palisades, CA 90272Bus: 310-454-0349… especially when it saves you money.I can help you save an average e o f $ 600.* Talk to meabout combining your renters and auto insurance today.G et to a better State®. 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