The Los Angeles City Council on Friday, Aug. 25 approved a report seeking to address barriers to hiring lateral transfers from outside law enforcement agencies to the Los Angeles Police Department in an effort to increase the department’s rank-and-file of officers.
The Council voted 12-2 — with councilwoman Monica Rodriguez absent from Friday’s meeting — to instruct the Personnel Department to identify and report back with possible solutions to address barriers to hiring lateral transfers to the LAPD.
The Council approved the vote with no discussion, but Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez did call for a separate vote on item. Soto-Martínez and Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez voted against it.
On Wednesday, the Council approved a nearly $1 billion four-year contract with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, according to the union representing LAPD. The labor agreement outlines a series of pay raises and bonuses intended to address issues of retention and recruitment.
The deal also increases health care benefits and patrol incentives.
In a statement, Mayor Karen Bass said that the LAPD’s sworn force dipped below 9,000 for the first time since 2022. Bass previously stated she intends to increase the LAPD’s sworn force by more than 750 officers.
Following the vote Wednesday, LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore said the contract is “another critical step in attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel.”
“The Los Angeles Police Department is at a critical juncture with staffing levels at historic lows,” Moore said in a statement. “The passage of the well-deserved contract by the majority of the City Council, coupled with the many voices from various business and residential community members, demonstrates the collective support of our people and the tireless work they do to protect and to serve every day.”
Council members Soto-Martínez, Hernandez and Nithya Raman voted against the contract, and called the deal…
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