LOS ANGELES : Committee OKs 1st Phase of Police Expansion Plan
A Los Angeles City Council committee on Tuesday unanimously approved the first phase of Mayor Richard Riordan’s police expansion plan, which is projected to increase police patrols by 70% over the next six months.
The council’s Budget and Finance Committee forwarded the plan to the full City Council, despite predictions by the head of the police union that officers will not work as much voluntary overtime as the proposal needs to succeed.
Police Protective League Pesident Ron Zeigler predicted that the projected net gain of the equivalent of 421 officers by increasing overtime payments will not be met. Zeigler said most officers will stay with their families rather than work the extra time.
But Police Chief Willie L. Williams, saying that many officers are already moonlighting in other jobs, predicted that the $13.6 million in extra pay approved by the council committee will easily be spent. The money will come from savings the Police Department has accrued over the last year, as its staffing slipped below the authorized 7,900 officers.
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