Palos Verdes’ new Police Chief vs. Bay Boys

Lunada Bay – you know it? Even if yes, you’ve never surfed it. For how much time it has spent in Californian news, Lunada Bay remains the state’s most localised spot. For decades, nobody but a tight crew of locals has been allowed to surf there. Try to paddle out, or even walk down there, and you’ll be asked not so nicely to leave, probably have some rocks hurled in your direction, and maybe even some fists depending on how much you try and tango. You’ll no doubt remember that video of a rock being thrown at a drone (watch above). To add to the fun, local law enforcement has long been accused of turning a blind eye to this kind of play. Earlier this year, a dispatcher at the police station was caught on camera by The Guardian saying: “We know all of them. They are infamous around here.” There was a peaceful protest there last year but the Lunada gang have such a pinch on the place that even when called to rally, non-immediate locals were too concerned for their boards and cheekbones, and the 25-strong paddle out made little difference. However, Palos Verdes just scored a new police chief by the name of Jeff Kepley. And like any time a new position of power is filled, its new occupant shakes his/her fist and shouts about change. According to a long-winded piece in the LA Times, Kepley is a little furious. “I’m not so naive to believe that we can solve this instantly or overnight,” Kepley said. “It took 50 years to get here. Hopefully, it won’t take that long to resolve, but I think it’s very important to get the word out as aggressively and enthusiastically as we can that the status quo is going to be mixed up around here. We will make an example out of anyone who behaves criminally down there.” Translation: Some patrols added to the coast, and some officers working overtime. And, Kepley said he hopes to make the first arrest in years of one of the assailants. This is probably just another brick in the road that is the war of California vs the Bay Boys. Or maybe Kepley is ex-military and like Captain Barnes in Gotham, will come down hard and fast. We shall see.