L.A. Police Urged to Hire More Civilians : Law enforcement: Woo wants to use $8 million saved by an employment freeze to replace officers doing jobs that do not require special training.

Nearly $8 million saved by a Los Angeles Police Department hiring freeze should be used to hire civilians to replace officers now performing jobs that don’t require police training, City Councilman Michael Woo said Monday.

But his proposal drew immediate criticism from City Administrative Officer Keith Comrie, who said the plan would derail efforts to solve a projected $122-million budget shortfall.

Woo said his proposal was inspired by a Times report that more than 400 officers are working assignments ranging from managing a PX to planning sports tournaments.

“I was shocked to learn there were literally hundreds of police officers teaching Spanish to officers and painting murals,” said Woo. “We ought to find a way to make more efficient use of the police we have now.”

Woo is expected to ask the City Council today to place the $7.9 million savings in a special fund earmarked for civilian police replacements. Replaced officers could then be assigned to patrol or investigative duties. Comrie said he will oppose the plan. “No matter how we feel personally about the need for more police officers, we have to keep the budget on balance so that those now on board can be paid,” he said.

A spokesman for the Police Department declined to comment on the Woo proposal until it has been introduced.

However, Woo’s motion won the backing of Jesse A. Brewer, a former LAPD assistant chief who is now one of five members of the civilian Police Commission. Brewer said the commission, the policy-making body that oversees the department, will support Woo’s plan.

Woo acknowledged that city budget problems are pressing, but said increases in violent crime make more efficient crime-fighting the No. 1 problem in Los Angeles.

“I don’t think you should balance the budget on the backs of people who are suffering at the hands of violent criminals,” he said.

Brewer, noting that the LAPD hiring freeze has resulted in the loss of about 200 police jobs through attrition, expressed similar sentiments.

“We recognize that the city is in a fiscal crisis,” he said. “But we also recognize that the safety and security of the people of this city are in jeopardy.”

Comrie did not deny that the crime problem is a serious one, but said balancing the budget by June 30 is required by state law.

The LAPD hiring freeze, he said, was instituted in November, months after all other city department had stopped hiring new employees. The salaries saved through the freezes have totaled $23 million citywide, he added.