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Mayor Hahn Moves to Revitalize Reserve Program
On May 14, 2004, Mayor Jim Hahn was joined by City Council Members Greig Smith and Dennis Zine, Assistant Los Angeles Police Chief Sharon Papa, Police Commissioner Alan Skobin and several Los Angeles Police Department reserve officers to announce new efforts to revitalize LAPD’s reserve officer program.
LAPD currently has 649 active reserve officers, the largest police department reserve unit in California. However, the Reserve Corps has an authorized strength of 2,000 officers, and at its peak, reached 1,500 reserve officers. Mayor Hahn said that because of the fiscal constraints on the Department, he is looking for creative ways to put more officers on the streets. "Reserve officers are a valuable resource to the Department. Our current complement of 649 reserve officers is the equivalent of approximately 100 full-time officers, which saves the LAPD approximately $5 million per year," said Mayor Hahn. "Because of difficult budget times, we are unable to hire the police officers we need, but building the reserve ranks will help us make our streets safer."
"On a daily basis, and in times of major disasters, the Los Angeles Police Department Reserve Officers stand side-by-side full-time LAPD Officers to support police operations," said Zine.
"As a Level I Reserve Officer with over 35 years of police experience, my reserve activities remain both challenging and interesting. It has been my honor and pleasure to serve the City of Los Angeles as an LAPD Reserve Officer for the past eleven years," said Councilman Smith. "I've trained and served alongside L.A.'s finest and count my work with the LAPD among the most rewarding and challenging of my career."
The survey that many of you completed several months ago helped the LAPD management determine the reserve corps strengths and weaknesses, and identified opportunities to improve the program. In addition, other Southern California reserve programs were surveyed and interviewed to gather new ideas. As a result, the Department is pursuing 20 recommendations to the Police Commission to revitalize the Reserve Corps program.
"The Police Department has been severely understaffed for years. I have asked officers to do more with less. I am encouraged by these initiatives that will increase the number of Reserve Police Officers to augment current staffing levels," said Police Chief Bill Bratton.
The initiatives focus on improving morale of the reserve officers as well as increasing the numbers. The recommendations are scheduled to go before the Police Commission for approval on June 8, 2004. During his news conference, Mayor Hahn highlights the following recommendations:
1) Establish as part of a five-year revitalization program a goal of doubling the size of the Reserve Corps.
2) Establish a Lateral Reserve Officer hiring and training process to facilitate the recruitment of reserve officers who wish to join LAPD from other agencies.
3) Provide all current and retired city employees a financial "hiring bonus" of
$500 when they successfully recruit a Level I, II, or III Reserve Officer and the concerned officer completes academy training.
4) Develop a Reserve Corps Recruitment Website similar to that for full-time
officers.
5) Streamline the hiring process to allow qualified Level I Reserve Officers to
become full-time police officers.
At the news conference, Police Commission Vice President Alan Skobin (a Los Angeles County Sheriff Reserve Deputy) stated, "These initiatives will greatly enhance the Department's Reserve Corps, making it an active and vital component of the LAPD's fight against crime. Reserve Officers are an example of community-based policing in its truest form. The value that Reserves bring to the table is immense, and doubling their force is a priceless benefit to the people of Los Angeles."
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