The Los Angeles Daily News reported Friday that the city of Los Angeles will have hired 750 new recruits — 100 more than they had aimed for — by June 30. According to the story, which was posted on the LAPD union’s website, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday that he wants to hire another 780 officers next year.
The story quotes Villaraigosa:
“Our police department has made remarkable progress over the past five years under the leadership of Chief Bill Bratton,” Villaraigosa said at a news conference at the LAPD’s training academy in Westchester. “Violent crime is down and Los Angeles residents are safer than they have been in 50 years. But we need to do more.
“Putting more officers on the street is my top priority, so we are going to push the envelope further.”
The story reports that Los Angeles paid for the new hires by hiking up monthly trash fees. The LAPD pursued an “aggressive recruitment effort that included a $1,000 bonus for police officers who refer recruits to the agency. The story also reported that the Los Angeles City Council is considering program that would offer signing bonuses of $5,000 to recruits and up to $10,000 for experienced officers who transfer to Los Angeles.