Cuts in Overtime, Staff Proposed by LAPD Chief

Under pressure from the mayor to cut an additional $10 million from his upcoming budget, Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks said Wednesday he has proposed reducing overtime pay and eliminating funds for about 50 sworn positions and 45 civilian jobs.

The funding cuts for staffing come after several years of growth at the LAPD. Parks said the department’s force will remain relatively consistent with the current staffing levels, which hover around 9,800 officers.

Because of retirements, resignations and other attrition, the LAPD frequently does not reach its authorized strength each year.

Nonetheless, the proposed cuts are expected to hamper operations.

“Managing our resources to remain within our allotted dollars is going to be a challenge,” said William R. Moran, commanding officer of the LAPD’s Fiscal and Support Bureau. “This is going to be a difficult year.”

The LAPD budget cuts requested by Mayor Richard Riordan are on top of the 6%--about $60 million--”productivity improvements” the department was supposed to identify earlier this year.

Moran said the department has not yet heard back from the mayor’s office about the additional proposed cuts.

Noelia Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said, “We are considering it with everything else because the mayor’s budget team is approaching the finish line on the 1998-99 fiscal budget.”

She added: “If the chief believes he can fulfill his mandate of making Los Angeles the safest big city in America with fewer police officer and less overtime, then more power to him.”