LAPD Budget of $1.4 Billion Proposed for ’99

The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday approved a proposed $1.4-billion departmental budget for 1999-2000 that would add 231 police officers to the LAPD, nearly double the number of department psychologists and staff a new bureau in the San Fernando Valley.

The proposed budget represents a nearly 20% increase in direct costs from this year, rather than the 2% cut Mayor Richard Riordan has directed city department heads to make. The commission sent the proposed budget to the mayor’s finance office for review.

“The budget dance has just begun,” said Deputy Mayor Noelia Rodriguez, the mayor’s spokeswoman. “Let the games begin. This happens every year. It’s part of the process.”

The proposed budget represents about $1 billion in direct costs to the city, compared to $853 million this fiscal year.

A large portion of the proposed budget increase--some $48 million--involves “obligatory salary” adjustments, officials said.

Much of the money for the new officers would come from a $150-million federal grant that is supposed to pay for up to 710 officers over the next few years.

According to LAPD officials, about half of the new police officers would be assigned to patrol and field operations. Twenty-three officers would go to the elite Metropolitan Division for a new Crime Suppression Squad, and 21 officers would be assigned to the financial crimes unit and robbery-homicide squad.

In addition to those positions, the proposed budget calls for creation of 177 civilian jobs. Among them: six civilians to help the LAPD with its Y2K computer readiness, 11 management analysts to support the department’s statistical-based “command accountability” project, and seven positions that would work on risk management issues with the city attorney’s office.

LAPD officials also are asking for tens of millions of dollars in new equipment, including $31.6 million to replace about 1,100 vehicles and $4 million to replace two helicopters. Funds have been requested for 310 video cameras and 385 ballistic door panels for patrol cars.

“This budget request reflects an accurate assessment of our critical needs to provide public safety for the city of Los Angeles,” said Cmdr. Dave Kalish, Police Chief Bernard C. Park’s spokesman.

Although the proposed budget represents a significant increase over this year, LAPD officials also identified “efficiency measures.” For example, the department is planning to implement a bar coding system, similar to the one used in supermarkets, to facilitate checking out equipment to officers. The project is expected to save up to $13 million a year in officer time.

Also Tuesday, the commission debated whether to downgrade the department’s dispatch time for “unverified” burglar alarm calls from “urgent” to “routine.” Because more than 92% of alarm calls turn out to be false, LAPD officials said it would be financially and strategically better to dispatch officers to such calls within 60 minutes of receiving the call, instead of 15 minutes, which is the current practice.

Parks and Commission Executive Director Joseph A. Gunn said the matter is an “operational issue” that does not need the approval of the civilian board. Some commissioners, however, said the matter is a “policy issue” that does require their approval. They directed LAPD officials to further analyze the proposal and report back to the board in a few weeks.

In another development, the commission, which has been impaneled for nearly a year and a half, voted to hold a special meeting early next year to map out its first public set of priorities for the LAPD.