WESTCHESTER : LAPD Academy Opens at Former HP Facility

The Los Angeles Police Department’s new academy here, set to begin training 90 recruits in January, opened its doors Saturday to an enthusiastic welcome from a community hoping for increased business and an expanded police presence.

Hosted by Police Chief Willie L. Williams, Councilwoman Ruth Galanter and Deputy Mayor William C. Violante, more than 100 local residents showed up to take a tour and express support for the partially completed facility, which once housed electronics giant Hewlett-Packard Co.

“What impressed everyone was how spacious it is and that they didn’t have to readjust the building’s configuration--the computer and training facilities, cafeteria and showers are already there,” said Don Savoie, executive director of the Westchester/LAX Chamber of Commerce and a local resident. “The new employee base will also bring more income to the area. I’m already telling everyone to buy stock in Winchell’s,” which has a doughnut shop nearby.

Said Joe Cunningham, another Westchester resident: “Platoons of recruits will be jogging down our roads, students and instructors driving down our streets . . . it might make the criminals in the area think twice.”

Police officials said they felt increased pressure to find a suitable facility for a new training center after the unveiling in October, 1993, of a public safety plan outlined by Mayor Richard Riordan and Williams. The plan set a goal of hiring an additional 2,855 officers over five years.

After the council’s approval last December, the facility was purchased in March for $13 million using police bond funds. An additional $10 million will be used for the property’s refurbishing.

City and police officials said the property’s empty four-story building had necessary amenities such as conference rooms, classrooms, a cafeteria and a near-complete computer room on the second floor. The existing Hewlett-Packard offices were also large enough to accommodate plans for a new 911 communications center, which, combined with the academy, will save the city about $50 million, police officials said.

Police officials said they saved about four years that would have been needed to construct a new academy.