Chief ends term as association president

CITY HALL — Nearly 30 Los Angeles County police chiefs packed Glendale's City Council Chambers Tuesday to salute the efforts of Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams as he stepped down as president of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs' Assn.

The association — which meets on a monthly basis to discuss chiefs' concerns, strategies for combating crime and other law enforcement business — presented Adams with a plaque recognizing his service.

He also received recognition from the Governor's office.

"I appreciate and am quite humbled by this turnout of all of my peers to recognize me for, actually, a labor of love," Adams said at the meeting.

Leading the chiefs in the association's efforts over the past year was an honor, he said.

Los Angeles District Atty. Steve Cooley also came to the meeting to acknowledge the Glendale Chief's efforts.

"Los Angeles County is better for [having] that organization, and it's better because it was led by Randy Adams this past year," he said.

Though Adams is finished with his duties as president, he will remain at the forefront of the organization as immediate past president. In this position he will work with incoming president, Don Pederson, chief of the Culver City Police Department.

Pederson gave a tribute to Adams' accomplishments over the past year at Tuesday's ceremony, held before the City Council.

"He's done a truly remarkable job during his time as president," Pederson said.

Among the president's duties are setting up meetings with other officials, committees and organizations and fielding e-mails and phone calls for the association, he said.

"[He has] really been a conduit to all the other organizations that interact with the law-enforcement folks here in L.A. County," Pederson said.

Adams spoke about the importance of teamwork and collaboration among individual departments and in the county as a whole.

"The reason we're so successful with law enforcement in L.A. County is because of the team that we are," he said.

It's essential for all local police departments to be able to call upon fellow chiefs and departments when the need arises, he said.

"In each agency it's important for the chief to muster [their own] department and bring it together as an important team — then to be able to network those teams together as we are able to do as an association," he said.

The City Council also commended Adams and thanked the chiefs for attending the meeting.

"Congratulations chief, you're a great leader," Councilman Rafi Manoukian said. "The work you've done with the police chiefs' association is certainly reflected by the number of people who are here supporting you and commending the work that you've done."