LAPD Staffing
* I recently spoke to a patrol officer from [the Los Angeles Police Department’s] Devonshire Division. He said that there are now less then 100 patrol officers to cover the division when there should be 250. This is when the department has enlarged the area of the division to cover parts of Panorama City. The officer has told me that recruit classes have been canceled due to insufficient hiring and that many officers are going to other departments due to Rampart and the policies of the chief.
If there is such a drastic drop in police personal in just one division, is the same true for the city? I know that observation arrests are down because of the heavy workload as well as the morale problem within the department.
I think the city should be aware of the lack of officers who are there to protect and to serve.
BILL DWORIN
Valencia
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