To the editor: So let’s get this straight: Town of Los Angeles — with 466 sq. miles of land, a inhabitants of three.8 million and eight,700 cops — can afford to chop 300 officers from its ranks (“With L.A. in disaster, Mayor Karen Bass’ hiring purpose for the LAPD slips additional out of attain,” Could 10). In the meantime, New York Metropolis covers 304 sq. miles of land, has a inhabitants of 8.2 million, and makes do with 34,000 uniformed officers. Earlier than the proposed cuts, in L.A., that’s one officer for each 437 of us of us; for N.Y.C., that’s one officer for each 241 residents. So, in N.Y.C., every officer has virtually half the workload of their peer in L.A. No surprise it feels a lot safer to stroll Manhattan at evening than a lot of L.A.
John Arcos, Lengthy Seashore
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To the editor: I urge the complete Metropolis Council to reject the funds committee’s proposal to cut back the variety of cops by slowing hiring, leaving the division with about 8,400 officers by June 2026. Town of L.A. could be at its lowest degree of cops in 30 years. With 530 cops anticipated to retire this yr, recruiting solely 240 leaves a web lower of virtually 300 officers.
This proposed reduce and, together with others that preceded it, will imply a division stretched too skinny. Although we noticed a discount within the violent crime fee final yr, we have to no less than preserve our present degree of sworn cops. If this proposed reduce is enacted, what shall be affected? Response time for every of our emergency calls? Reducing again on models engaged on main crimes? Group relations? Narcotics? Counter terrorism?
Rick Tuttle, Culver Metropolis
