Task Force to Study Why LAPD Officers Are Leaving

Concerned about the large number of police officers leaving the Los Angeles Police Department--especially those quitting for jobs on other forces--Mayor Richard Riordan has asked Police Chief Willie L. Williams to put together a task force to find ways to stem the losses.

Williams announced the task force, to be headed by him and Deputy Mayor Bill Violante, during a news conference Thursday at which a report was released on the department’s progress toward Riordan’s goal of adding 2,855 officers over five years. He was joined by Riordan and Police Commission Vice President Deirdre Hill.

The report, obtained by The Times a day earlier, showed attrition had undercut the gains made during a year of near-record hiring. During the recently ended fiscal year, 926 officers were hired, but 474 left. Almost half, 218, retired or had reached their 20- to 25-year service anniversaries, and 42 left because of disability retirements, the report said. Seventeen others were officers or recruits who were fired, nine died and 49 were recruits who quit before completing their seven months of training. Seventy were probationary officers who resigned, and 69 were experienced officers who resigned before they were eligible for retirement.