Los Angeles Adds 330 Police in Two Years

Los Angeles added 330 officers from July 2005 to July 2007. (Los Angeles Times, July 23, 2007) That is a net gain after retirements and resignations, which run well over 400 officers per year. (Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2007)

Although LA is a bigger city, there is no reason why Oakland cannot add about the same number of officers in order to get the police force we need. The pay is comparable, and both cities recruit well outside their own population base. The difference: Los Angeles officials understand that public safety is the first job of city government. Not one Oakland councilmember, let alone the mayor, has committed to at least 1,100 police.

Stealing wheels in daylight

Instead, Oakland officials stare at the problem in denial, putting the burden on residents. "The police alone cannot solve this issue," said Victor Ochoa, mayor Dellums' deputy chief of staff, who oversees public safety. "They are stretched within their resources – they are very stretched .... Community policing means community involvement and that is essential," Ochoa said. (Bay Cities News, July 24, 2007)

Mr. Ochoa, many residents are eager to contribute to community safety. They are happy to be the "eyes and ears," as City officials are fond of saying. But when the police department does not have enough hands, incidents like this happen: "I was outside talking to neighbors. Whom do I see come by, the person who stole our spare wheel (several stolen around us). He was carrying a large screwdriver and a lug wrench. I followed on foot. He went into several back yards. I got in my car and called the police while watching him case cars and trespass several more properties. I told dispatch that I would wait and watch until the police come out – but I was told that no one is available. So I went home to write this email. I am fuming." (Posted on an email list, July 29, 2007)

Councilmember Denies Los Angeles Gains

Anger at police understaffing is rising into the hills areas. The leadership of the Montclair Safety Improvement Council conducted a highly scripted meeting on Aug. 9, 2007, rolling out a host of City officials attempting to pacify the "civilians."

This group issued a question-and-answer document after the meeting. One hills resident asked about Los Angeles's net gain of 330 officers in two years. Councilmember Quan provided this reply:

Council Member Quan's office called the LAPD and was told that LAPD did not increase its force by 330 officers; rather, these are the number of officers recruited to their training program to fill vacant positions. (MSIC Q&A document, p. 10)

In other words, residents are asked to take a verbal report from a staff aide to councilmember Quan, a fierce advocate of Measure Y, over the reporting of the Los Angeles Times. The Times' article reported:

When [mayor] Villaraigosa took office in July 2005, the LAPD had 9,181 officers. He vowed to increase the size of the force, and today the LAPD has 9,511 officers.(Los Angeles Times, July 23, 2007)

Does that read as though someone looked up recruits in training instead of actual officers employed? The net gain is 330 officers – a figure provided by ORPN by doing arithmetic on actual data published by the Times.

Update: A more recent report from the Los Angeles Times states, "As of Dec. 22 [2007], the force numbered 9,572 officers, up from 9,181 when the mayor took office in July 2005." (Dec. 31, 2007) That's a gain of 391 in two and a half years.