Attorney William Briggs steps down from LA Police Commission

William Briggs announced Tuesday that he is stepping down from the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners after four years on the five-member body that guides policy for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Briggs said Tuesday’s meeting would be his last. He did not give a reason, and no replacement has been announced yet by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who appoints members to the commission.

Briggs, a trial lawyer and civil litigator, was appointed to the commission in 2020 by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti. He served as president of the commission in 2021, and during his term the board changed the LAPD’s policy on pretextual stops and implemented the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement peer intervention program.

“I also want to personally thank Mr. Briggs for his welcoming of myself and the commissioners who have been appointed by Mayor (Karen) Bass to join the board,” Board President Erroll Southers said during Tuesday’s commissioners meeting. “He was for most of us, the first commissioner that we met. He welcomed us, helped us to become acclimated and made sure that we were supported as we transitioned onto this board.

“I believe I can speak for the entire department and board when I say that we thank you for your time, your dedication, your wise counsel, measured decision making and your leadership,” he added.

Briggs thanked Southers and the other members of the commission for their kind words, and noted that Garcetti asked him to join the board in July 2020, following the George Floyd protests.

“It took me some time to consider whether or not I wanted to sit on this board knowing the full weight and responsibility that comes with sitting in this chair,” Briggs said.

Briggs said he accepted the position with some conditions — that the LAPD was not defunded, that meaningful change would happen within the agency to improve procedures and culture to regain the trust of L.A. residents, and that community policing would be expanded.

Briggs noted the importance of holding listening sessions to hear from LAPD command staff and various city stakeholders. His time on the board led to some “eye-opening” experiences, he added.

“We balanced both public safety and the public’s right not to be stopped simply because of the color of their skin,” Briggs said. “I will say this as I wrap up that none of the accomplishments would have been possible without the steadfast support of the entire staff of the Board of Police Commissioners and department — both sworn and civilian.”