CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO STOP HIRING POLICE OFFICERS

CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO STOP HIRING POLICE OFFICERS

FACT SHEET

April 13, 2010

Background: The budgetary limitation imposed upon the Los Angeles Police Department as a result of the financial crisis the City is experiencing has had, and will continue to have, a number of potentially negative consequences. On April 12, 2010, Councilmember Koretz made a verbal motion in Budget Committee to stop hiring police officers through the end of the fiscal year. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Parks. A full Council vote on Mr. Koretz’s motion has been scheduled for 1030 hours on Wednesday April 14, 2010. Also germane to the discussion will be the effect of compensatory time off on detective operations related to Joel Rubin’s article, “Investigations Sit Idle as LAPD Detectives Hit Overtime Caps,” LA Times, April 13, 2010.

Findings

Deployment

* 9,921 sworn officers out of an authorized deployment of 9,963 sworn officers;

* The Department has currently been hiring only to meet attrition;

* The Department must hire 89 recruits through the end of the 2009/2010 fiscal year at a cost of $1.5 million to meet projected attrition;

* In fiscal year 2010/2011, the Department must hire 289 recruits at a cost of $7.5 million to meet projected attrition; and,

* Current loss of approximately 286 officers per deployment period due to increased usage in compensatory time off (CTO);

Effects on Operations

* Projected loss of approximately 600 officers per deployment period by mid-summer;

* Combined with current attrition, the number of actual officers deployed could be reduced to 9,274 by mid-summer and the mid-8000 range by 2012;

* Homicide and other major crime investigative efficiencies reduced as more detectives reach the 250-hour CTO cap;

* Gang, narcotic, and vice units’ investigation efficiencies reduced as more officers reach the 250-hour CTO cap;

* Standby time reduction has resulted in the decreased availability of personnel: e.g. SWAT, homicide call-out personnel;

* Standby time reduction for Force Investigation Division has the Criminal Apprehension Unit, who coordinates the capture of assailants of police officers, from six investigators to two in addition to an overall reduction of FID standby time;

* 50 percent reduction in K-9 deployment has resulted in more restrictive response protocols and decreased availability as a result of the 250-hour CTO cap and reductions in standby time; and,

* Other public service cuts:

* Closure of 21 Area front desk stations during morning watch hours;

* More restrictive traffic report policy for complained of injury only traffic collisions;

* More restrictive policy for calls for service response;

* Officers removed from the field to fill in for civilian losses;

* Arrest, crime, traffic and miscellaneous report processing capabilities reduced due to furlough and civilian vacancies; and,

* Civilian furlough days reduced the number of personnel available to work support functions such as, 9-1-1 call service and unit dispatch, crime analysis, administrative operations, jail and property functions.

CTO Usage Comparison: 2010 vs. 2009

* Deployment Period 1

* 2009: 16,0350 hours

* 2010: 30,376 hours

* Difference: 14,341 hours

* Deployment Period 2

* 2009: 17,005 hours

* 2010: 49,736 hours

* Difference: 32,736 hours

* Deployment Period 3

* 2009: 17,470 hours

* 2010: 59,795 hours

* Difference: 42,325 hours

Prepared By:

The Office of Operations