As a Senior Lead Officer there are many issues that people call or e-mail me about.  One of the most prominent concerns are noise complaints.  Those problems can run the range from children playing in an apartment courtyard to a neighbor blasting music from outdoor speakers pointed towards his neighbor’s house.

                When I get a noise complaint I have to try to determine if the concern is something that is outside the realm of “usual and reasonable” noise.  For example, I got a call from a citizen who complained that children living next door were “constantly” screaming and yelling and disturbing his peace.  Further questioning of the caller revealed the issue was the children were screaming and yelling while they were playing in their swimming pool.  The problem occurred mostly on weekends during the summer and only usually for an hour or two.  In addition, the caller advised they kept their windows open and didn’t think they should have to close their windows to reduce the noise.

                The fact of the matter is that there is very little I’m going to be able to do for that person.  I can go talk to the parents of the children, but often my involvement escalates the situation.  On rare occasions, the offending person/s once informed they are disturbing neighbors will alter their activity.  In this case we’re talking about children playing – and that’s what kids do.  My suggestion to this citizen was to close the windows, and turn on a fan while the children played.

                Lest you think I’m unsympathetic to the complaint, I’m not.  I’ve experienced it for myself.  Several years ago, when I worked the graveyard shift, I would sleep during the day.  My neighbors, (who have three boys) would invite entire sports teams over to their house to swim on weekends while I was trying to sleep.  I turned on a fan and slept with ear mufflers.  Could I have complained about the noise?  Yes.  But kids were doing what kids do – play.  It was usual and reasonable noise.

                Now, let’s look at another type of complaint I receive…a neighbor repeatedly practices a musical instrument, or people outside are talking loud, or a neighbor plays his radio loudly.  The caller tells me their neighbor makes this noise every day for hours but, when he calls the police, the offending neighbor has stopped making the noise by the time the police get there.

                So I tell the caller what I’d like them to do is to keep a log of when the neighbor makes the noise.  Then, I tell them to also log the date and time they call the police.  I ask them if they are aware of what time the police arrive, to log that as well.   Additionally, I ask them to log the time the noise stops.   I also ask them to get three neighbors to do the same (logging events).  I also ask the caller, if possible to safely tape record or video-tape the disturbance…after all - a photo is worth a thousand words.

                I explain to the caller the City Attorney generally likes to have at least three neighbors complaining about the same noise issue.  That way, if they file a court case it is clear to the judge this isn’t a “personality clash” between two parties.

                The documentation is important because it provides a timeline of the occurrences and, should I need to look up a particular incident, the dates and times calls were placed to the police are invaluable.

                I’ve been a Senior Lead Officer for over four years and, to this day, I have not had one person keep a running log as I’ve asked.  And this is where the frustration sets in.  You have called me with a problem.  I’ve given you a list of things I’d like you to do to help me (and the City Attorney) so we can try to assist you with the problem…but you don’t do it. 

                I like to think of myself as a good cop but there are some things that I can’t do without your help, and documenting sporadic noise in your neighborhood is not something I’m able to do.  So grab your pencil and paper and prepare to write and, hopefully, together we can come to a suitable outcome for all.

   Kathy Bennett has been a Los Angeles Police Officer for 19 years and currently is assigned as the Senior Lead Officer for Basic Car 17A67 in Devonshire Area.  She can be reached at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (818) 634-0495.