Property Crimes Up - LAPD Recruitments Down

RANTZ & RAVEZ - As LAPD response to Radio Calls is delayed and crimes continue to occur in Los Angeles, the Ranks of the LAPD continues to fall month after month with senior personnel retiring and few people accepting the signing bonus and other incentives to join the LAPD.  What are you to do to protect yourself and your family with police response times increasing when you call 911 or encounter a criminal case with District Attorney George Gascon’s office failing to prosecute arrestees who flee the jurisdiction and do not Post Bail per the No Bail policy established in Los Angeles County and strongly supported by D.A. Gascon.  Who are now the victim of the FAILING Los Angeles City and County criminal justice system?

The LAPD reports as of October 7, 2023, the total number of sworn personnel is at 8,977.  This number represents every sworn officer from Chief Moore and his administration of staff, detectives, and hundreds of additional non-field personnel to the new recruits in the academy.  Compare this number to the number of sworn LAPD personnel on July 30, 2022.  9288 Total.  That is a difference of 311 sworn police personnel.  Does the difference of 311 sworn personnel make a change in delivering police service to the 3,908,705 occupants of the 472.93 square miles of the City of Los Angeles?  You bet it does.  It provides for additional personnel to respond to radio calls, complete investigations and conduct a variety of critical activities.  With the lack of personnel, many police functions and responsibilities are reduced, abandoned, or ignored.  The results impact each taxpayer who becomes the victim of a violent, property and all sorts of crimes.  Child abuse to elder abuse and from Forgery to Burglary.  GTA and Narcotics Activity.  With the lack of trained police officers many functions are pushed to the sides or delayed being investigated.   

Along with the lack of sworn police officers, there is a lack of civilian personnel responsible for a variety of administrative functions including communications division where all emergency calls are received and dispatched.  I know from first-hand experience that I have had to wait for the 911 line to be answered by communications personnel. 

The incentive of a $2,000 award to any L.A. City employees who are successful in recruiting a candidate to join the LAPD and graduates from the Academy has not generated any significant recruitment activity.  Additionally, financial incentives for new LAPD Officers has not proven to be effective in recruiting police personnel.  And as a last resort the hiring back of newly retired offices has also proven to be ineffective in boosting the ranks and public safety in Los Angeles.  To add to the dilemma, the lack of support for the LAPD from the “City Council Crazy Train Members” has not done much to encourage people to become LAPD officers.  I will remind you again who the Current “Crazy Train City Council Members” are: Eunisses Hernandez, Nithya Raman and Hugo Soto-Martinez.  Each of these elected members of the Los Angeles City Council voted NO on the recent LAPD contract.  They have drawn the line in the sand by their NO vote by showing they don’t care about public safety in Los Angeles or your safety or that of your family or community.  I will continue to remind you now and at election time who on the L.A. City Council supports public safety for you and your family.  Along with the “City Hall Crazy Train Members” there is the L.A. County D.A. George Gascon who does not support Public Safety and continues destroying public safety throughout Los Angeles County.  Working together we can return Los Angeles City and County to the great and safe place it once was.  It can and will be done ONLY with your support.

I encourage you to review the current LAPD Crime Stats on your computer.  The most recent stats reflect the following trends as of October 21. 

COMPSTAT.  Citywide Profile.  2021 vs 2023.

Property Crimes:

Staff member of Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez resigns after making Insulting and harmful remark regarding the Holocaust. 

Josh Androsky who was a senior advisor to “Crazy Train” Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez promptly resigned from his position in the council office following an insulting and antisemitic remark about comedian Amy Schumer.  I will not go into the offensive antisemitic remark that was an alleged “Joke.”  This is just another example of the lack of maturity and common sense displayed by a member of Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez staff.

This situation follows a previous request for the LAPD to monitor a disabled car of the Councilmember’s staff.  The Councilmember has illustrated that he has no respect or admiration for members of the LAPD.  It must be noted that all personnel hired by a Councilmember serve at the direction and pleasure of the Councilmember and can be removed at the direction of the Councilmember.  It is obvious that Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez lacks administrative control of the personnel he hires in his office to represent him.

The World is facing a major crisis in the Russia – Ukraine War.  And now, another war is directly impacting America and The United States Military. 

The War in Ukraine has been going for over 600 days.  There is no end in sight and American troops have not directly engaged in the battle which is a blessing for the American Military.  While we have seen the war in Ukraine drop from the Headlines, the War between Israel and Hamas has brought America to attention as the battles continue and advance.  American troops and equipment are being moved into the region.  As this situation continues and possible American military engagement approaches, I pray that America can remain strong as we encounter some very serious military challenges.  Serving on the local ARMY Board of Advisors I know our military is not as strong in numbers as it has been in the past.  The lack of personnel can raise serious concerns.  As you watch the news and hear the challenges keep our military personnel in your prayers.   

(Dennis P.  Zine is the author of RantZ and RaveZ.  The column is published twice a month in citywatchla.com to inform you of activities in your community.)