By KEITH GRANT
In 1993, Laffey's abilities overseeing the Operations Division were put to the test when the World Trade Center was bombed.
"I was there literally 10 minutes after the explosion went off," he said. Having been so close to the first attack, Laffey said he wasn't surprised that the country and New York would be targeted again.
"Once we came to know that it was a bomb [in '93], that it was a terrorist attack, we learned we were not invulnerable."
Laffey was most recently the commanding officer in the NYPD's housing division, responsible for the borough of Manhattan. Two and a half years ago, a friend told him that Long Beach--where he has lived since 1992--was looking for a new police commissioner to succeed Thomas Browne. Intrigued, he dropped off a resume and got a call about a month later to meet with the city council, which had narrowed its candidates from about 30 down to four.
At that time, the job was handed to acting commissioner Ken Cohen, but a year later--when Cohen announced plans to retire at the end of 2001--Laffey was called and asked if he was still interested in the job. He was invited to join the force as assistant commissioner, spend a year learning the department, and become commissioner upon Cohen's retirement, at the discretion of the council.
Laffey said that his time with the department thus far has left him with "great admiration for the intelligence of Long Beach Police officers and their professionalism. Their detective work and patrol of the city is outstanding."
In regards to the stinging controversy that has surrounded his transfer of Lt. Tom Sofield, Laffey said he hadn't expected the outcry and political fallout that followed.
"To tell the truth, I really didn't think about it. I did what I thought was in the best interest of the city and the department."
After 10 years leading the detective division, Sofield will become Commanding Officer of the Uniformed Force ,while Lt. Kevin Rooney will assume Sofield's role as head of detectives. Lt. Michael Tangney will become Laffey's Executive Officer, and Sgt. Gene Brown will replace Tangney as Commanding Officer of the Traffic Division.
The new top cop sees the LBPD's biggest challenge as maintaining the city's quality of life.
"In the last 10 years, the department's been instrumental in raising the quality of life in Long Beach. The challenge now is keeping it there."
He hopes to "reinvigorate" the chain of command, he said, encouraging officers to challenge everything they do and look for better ways of doing the job.
"I don't want them to look to me for every decision."
The new commissioner is a fan of the steady tour system that was ended a year ago during bitter contract negotiations, but is now back in place.
"I've never been in favor of rotating tours," Laffey said of the city's former system of patrolling. "I think the police department is better during steady tours. I think community policing is more easily accomplished if done through steady tours."
The Laffey File
1969--joined NYPD
1981--promoted to sergeant
1983--promoted to lieutenant
1985--promoted to captain; becomes Commanding Office of the 109th precinct.
1989--promoted to deputy inspector
1991--becomes Commanding Officer of the Operations Division
1993--promoted to Inspector; works scene of World Trade Center bombing
1995--becomes Executive Officer to the Chief of the Department; promoted to deputy chief
1996--becomes Commanding Officer of Housing for boro of Manhattan
2000--retires; joins LBPD as Assistant Commissioner
