Watch Commanders: The Conscience of the South Gate Police

On the evening of June 12, 2012 an officer of the South Gate Police Department (SGPD) was engaged in a vehicle pursuit of a reckless driver. The suspect had run some red lights on the intersection of California Avenue and Southern Avenue.

“Traffic was heavy and the suspect was driving really fast,” said Sgt. Tim Williams of the SGPD, who was the Watch Commander on duty the following day. “It was cancelled in the best interest of everybody.”

The Watch Commander is either a Lieutenant or senior Sergeant within the police department. They usually serve in this position several times a week, which has an exhaustive list of operational and administrative duties.

Among their most important jobs is being the officer in charge of patrol operations for a day or night shift. This role calls for them to act as the conscience of the police department when dealing with day-to-day incidents. They are expected to make the final decision in a situation after taking into account all variables.   

Watch Commanders have to think about the safety of residents’ but also of their fellow officers.

“I have to think about what the officers need to complete their mission,” said Lieutenant Frank “Pico” Rivera, who has worked as a Watch Commander for the past year and a half.  “So that they can come back home and do their job another day.”

During June’s vehicle chase, the Watch Commander during that evening was faced with a complex situation.  In fact, pursuits are an illustrative example of a difficult occurrence that a commander might encounter. 

“Pursuits are one of the situations that are most stressful, “ said Captain Keith Hupp of the SGPD, and a veteran Watch Commander. “The [Watch Commander] makes the ultimate decision on when the dangers of a pursuit outweigh the benefits.”

The severity of the crime, traffic conditions, dangerous speeds, and the probability that a suspect can be identified, are just some of the many calculations that a Watch Commander has to make before making their decision. 

The task is not easy and there is little room for error.

“All these decisions must be made in seconds,” said Capt. Hupp. “The stakes are high.“

These tough decisions are important for the SGPD to function.  The absence of a Watch Commander can cripple the efficiency of a police department.

“Someone has to be the top official that makes the decision of how to respond to a situation,” said Lt. Rivera. “We cannot operate without a Watch Commander.”

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