HOLLENBECK COMMUNITY POLICE STATION - RUDY DE LEON BUILDING

Motion - Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Captain Rudy de Leon (retired) grew up in a large household during the depression. He and his four brothers and sisters sold their mother's tamales door to door and raised chickens, pigs and grew vegetables. Captain de Leon joined the Navy in WWII and shortly after completing his service to this country he entered the Los Angeles Police Academy in 1947. Rudy de Leon enjoyed a stellar career highlighted by his distinction of becoming the first Mexican American/Latino to be named Captain of a Los Angeles Police Division in 1971 and was assigned to the Hollenbeck Division in Boyle Heights. Captain de Leon was instrumental in transforming the Hollenbeck Police Station's large basement into a boxing gym and providing a safe place where kids could learn to box and stay out of trouble. Captain de Leon loved his job and the community and in return, the community loved and supported him. Long before there was such a thing as "community policing," Rudy de Leon was, by his own example an inspiration, a proponent of his own unique style of "community policing." Captain de Leon remains a legend in the Boyle Heights community as well as among his former colleagues in the LAPD. During his 31 year career, Captain de Leon had a tremendous impact in Northeast Los Angeles and influenced countless young people in a positive manner. He also led the way to the creation of the Hollenbeck Youth Center. Over the many years of service to Eastside communities and the LAPD Captain De Leon earned the respect of fellow LAPD Officers, citizens and other community leaders as well as statewide recognition. In 1967 Captain de Leon became one of the founders of Latin American Enforcement Association, known as La Ley, which provides scholarships for local students and sponsors study groups to help minority officers move up in the ranks. Among his other career achievements is his appointment to the State Parole Board and the State Attorney General's Office, as Special Assistant. THEREFORE MOVE that in recognition of Captain Rudy De Leon's 31 years of service to the City and the community, the new Hollenbeck Police Station, which is currently under construction, be named as the "Hollenbeck Community Police Station - Rudy de Leon Building". FURTHER MOVE that the City Council direct the Bureau of Engineering to design the appropriate exterior signage to read the "Hollenbeck Community Police Station - Rudy de Leon Building" and that said signage be compatible with the proposed signage for the interior including Captain De Leon's image and appropriate biographical verbiage. FURTHER MOVE that City Council direct the General Services Department fabricate the permanent exterior and interior signage and install permanent exterior and interior signage in recognition of Captain De Leon's 31 years service to the City of Los Angeles. Also, that the General Services Department work with the Office of Councilmember José Huizar to determine the appropriate signage and verbiage.

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