Budget
The City of Los Angeles is currently faced with a tremendous budget challenge. The budget situation is volatile and changes daily, but as I have said before, our Department will do its part in shared sacrifice to help with the economic recovery of the City. I know that all of you, sworn and civilian are anxious about the decisions being made and the tough times that lie ahead with much uncertainty. As the situation is so dynamic and fluid, everyday there are new scenarios, options and recommendations posed to deal with the budget. I would be remiss in providing information to you as factual, when the budget situation is still being explored and likely to change by the time this message reaches you.
Our civilian workforce is affected and feels a great sense of uncertainty due to talk of layoffs and downsizing. My staff and I are working closely with the Mayor’s Office, City Attorney’s Office and the Personnel Department to maintain the best interest of the Police Department’s civilian workforce. I have made it very clear how vital the civilian workforce is within the Department. The bottom line is that the civilian workforce is vital to the Department and we cannot effectively perform daily operations without them.
The crime declines of the last few years have proven that we are a Department ready to meet the challenges ahead and will continue to lead the nation in best practices in policing. Public safety remains the number one priority. To that end, a reorganization has been implemented and more changes continue in an effort to create a more efficient and effective Department. I have made additional changes in assignments, adding more deployable resources to the Areas and Geographic Bureaus to offset the $80 million dollar cut in overtime. This cut is the equivalent of laying off approximately 600 officers. The impact of personnel reaching the 250 hour threshold will require mandated time off (T/Os) which will take officers right out of patrol cars and off detective desks. I realize this has affected numerous personnel that would otherwise be assigned to specialized units, but I also recognize the need for us to work together more than ever, and shared sacrifices must be made.
I want to congratulate Jim McDonnell on his selection as Chief of Police of the Long Beach Police Department. I have had the pleasure to have worked alongside Jim for a long time. Jim is truly the epitome of an outstanding cop and family man. Jim will be greatly missed as a member of the LAPD family, but I look forward to partnering with him on the regional level.
Parole release
On January 25, 2010, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) instituted measures to reduce the State's prison population. Specifically, Non-Revocable Parole (NRP) was instituted under the authority of Penal Code Section 3000.03. By the end of 2010, CDCR estimates the prison population will be reduced by approximately 6,500 offenders through the implementation of NRP and enhanced early release credits. Los Angeles County is expected to have some 6,000 NRP prisoners by the end of the year; some who will represent a portion of the 21,000 supervised parolees expected to return to LA County during the year.
The NRP parolees are non-supervised, cannot have a parole hold placed on them pursuant to Penal Code Section 3056, and cannot be returned to custody for a parole violation. However, they are subject to the same search conditions as supervised parolees. Eligibility for NRP is based on the following criteria:
• Non-serious or non-violent offender
• Non-sex offender
• Non-validated prison gang member
• Low or moderate risk offender; and,
• Individuals who have not committed a serious in-custody offense.
The CDCR will implement an upgrade to the parole Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) system for law enforcement to assist with the tracking of all parolees. This database contains parolee information including photographs taken of inmates when they are released. The NRP parolees will be added to LEADS with their photographs and unverified address. Use of the LEADS system will continue to allow our Department to incorporate parolee information into our crime reduction efforts.
Reorganization is not the only way to put more officers in the field. I plan on holding several Captain and Commander positions vacant and have canceled all Chief of Police Formal Inspections for an indefinite period. Additionally, I have directed my staff to work with the Police Protective League to reduce the amount of mandated qualification requirements.
Budget cuts, the threat of layoffs, the release of thousands of prisoners and the threat of terrorism…these are indeed difficult times. But remember, difficult times call for understanding, resilience and character. I have no doubt that you, the men and women of this Department will not fail in our mission to protect and to serve.
The City of Los Angeles is currently faced with a tremendous budget challenge. The budget situation is volatile and changes daily, but as I have said before, our Department will do its part in shared sacrifice to help with the economic recovery of the City. I know that all of you, sworn and civilian are anxious about the decisions being made and the tough times that lie ahead with much uncertainty. As the situation is so dynamic and fluid, everyday there are new scenarios, options and recommendations posed to deal with the budget. I would be remiss in providing information to you as factual, when the budget situation is still being explored and likely to change by the time this message reaches you.
Our civilian workforce is affected and feels a great sense of uncertainty due to talk of layoffs and downsizing. My staff and I are working closely with the Mayor’s Office, City Attorney’s Office and the Personnel Department to maintain the best interest of the Police Department’s civilian workforce. I have made it very clear how vital the civilian workforce is within the Department. The bottom line is that the civilian workforce is vital to the Department and we cannot effectively perform daily operations without them.
The crime declines of the last few years have proven that we are a Department ready to meet the challenges ahead and will continue to lead the nation in best practices in policing. Public safety remains the number one priority. To that end, a reorganization has been implemented and more changes continue in an effort to create a more efficient and effective Department. I have made additional changes in assignments, adding more deployable resources to the Areas and Geographic Bureaus to offset the $80 million dollar cut in overtime. This cut is the equivalent of laying off approximately 600 officers. The impact of personnel reaching the 250 hour threshold will require mandated time off (T/Os) which will take officers right out of patrol cars and off detective desks. I realize this has affected numerous personnel that would otherwise be assigned to specialized units, but I also recognize the need for us to work together more than ever, and shared sacrifices must be made.
I want to congratulate Jim McDonnell on his selection as Chief of Police of the Long Beach Police Department. I have had the pleasure to have worked alongside Jim for a long time. Jim is truly the epitome of an outstanding cop and family man. Jim will be greatly missed as a member of the LAPD family, but I look forward to partnering with him on the regional level.
Parole release
On January 25, 2010, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) instituted measures to reduce the State's prison population. Specifically, Non-Revocable Parole (NRP) was instituted under the authority of Penal Code Section 3000.03. By the end of 2010, CDCR estimates the prison population will be reduced by approximately 6,500 offenders through the implementation of NRP and enhanced early release credits. Los Angeles County is expected to have some 6,000 NRP prisoners by the end of the year; some who will represent a portion of the 21,000 supervised parolees expected to return to LA County during the year.
The NRP parolees are non-supervised, cannot have a parole hold placed on them pursuant to Penal Code Section 3056, and cannot be returned to custody for a parole violation. However, they are subject to the same search conditions as supervised parolees. Eligibility for NRP is based on the following criteria:
• Non-serious or non-violent offender
• Non-sex offender
• Non-validated prison gang member
• Low or moderate risk offender; and,
• Individuals who have not committed a serious in-custody offense.
The CDCR will implement an upgrade to the parole Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) system for law enforcement to assist with the tracking of all parolees. This database contains parolee information including photographs taken of inmates when they are released. The NRP parolees will be added to LEADS with their photographs and unverified address. Use of the LEADS system will continue to allow our Department to incorporate parolee information into our crime reduction efforts.
Reorganization is not the only way to put more officers in the field. I plan on holding several Captain and Commander positions vacant and have canceled all Chief of Police Formal Inspections for an indefinite period. Additionally, I have directed my staff to work with the Police Protective League to reduce the amount of mandated qualification requirements.
Budget cuts, the threat of layoffs, the release of thousands of prisoners and the threat of terrorism…these are indeed difficult times. But remember, difficult times call for understanding, resilience and character. I have no doubt that you, the men and women of this Department will not fail in our mission to protect and to serve.
Comments