Plan Calls for Police Force of 10,000 Officers

An ambitious $408-million plan to boost the Los Angeles police force to an unprecedented 10,000 officers by 1993 was unveiled Wednesday by City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky.

From the record 7,900-officer force that is expected to be on duty by July, Yaroslavsky calls for increasing police ranks at the rate of 525 new officers each year through 1993. Already, in the last two years, in a time of concern over gang-related violence and other crime, the authorized force has grown by 1,000 officers.

Coming just over a year after then-mayoral aspirant Yaroslavsky pushed for an 8,000-officer plan, the councilman’s latest idea won quick support from Police Chief Daryl F. Gates. Gates said if the mayor and City Council approve the boosts, there would be a ratio of three officers per 1,000 population for the first time in city history.

Comparisons Drawn

Citing figures in other major cities showing the police-to-population ratio as high as the 4.64-per-1,000 in Detroit, Gates said Yaroslavsky’s plan would mean that “people will really believe they can get the police there when they need them. We will have crime going down.”

The proposal for the first year’s staffing boost faces an uncertain future as the council’s budget deliberations are still months away.

But Yaroslavsky moved Wednesday to consolidate support, even from his recent rival, Mayor Tom Bradley. Yaroslavsky met privately with Bradley for 25 minutes Wednesday afternoon to discuss the police hiring idea and other issues. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two officials since Yaroslavsky abandoned his quest for the mayor’s office on Jan. 6.

The meeting was in marked contrast to last year’s police hiring debates, in which Yaroslavsky, without consulting Bradley, first proposed the hiring of 250 new officers. In response, the mayor quickly upped the new-officer ante in what became an escalating political contest. Eventually 400 new officers were authorized by the mayor and council.

After Wednesday’s meeting in Bradley’s office, Yaroslavsky said, “We talked in general about the need to hire more police. (But) I didn’t ask for and he didn’t give me any commitment.”

Bradley refused to comment on the closed-door meeting. Through a spokeswoman, the mayor said he thinks it is premature to discuss the upcoming budget.

On Tuesday, the Police Commission recommended that 400 new officers be hired in the coming year.

Projected Costs

At the rates proposed by Yaroslavsky of 525 new officers a year, costs would run $16 million for hiring and training and $34.2 million for equipment, according to city administrative office estimates. As more and more new officers came on line, the projected costs ultimately would climb to a total outlay of $408 million between the 1989-90 and the 1993-94 fiscal years.

Yaroslavsky, as the council’s Finance Committee chairman, said that a variety of revenue sources could be tapped. Although he had no specific figures, Yaroslavsky said money could be found through higher user fees from hotels and golf courses, for example, and from redevelopment funds and cutting “non-essential” city programs.

There was no certainty, however, that current training facilities could handle such a recruit load if enough money is found. But Yaroslavsky said he has been persuaded by the Police Department that there would be no training problem.

“(The LAPD) thinks this year they can handle as much as 450 recruits,” Yaroslavsky said. “Last year they thought they could handle 250 and they ended up handling 450. It is my belief that over time, as the training program becomes more efficient and the pipeline remains full . . . they could get to a 500-officer level.”