NateSN
01-09-2007, 12:00 PM
LAPD recruits may get bonus
$5,000 would be awarded upon academy graduation; part of effort to add
1,000 to the force.
By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/08/2007 09:09:05 PM PST
The 83 recruits who began training Monday to become LAPD officers
received an unexpected boost: They may be eligible for a $5,000 or
$10,000 bonus.
Under the program announced by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, recruits
would get $5,000 once they graduate from the police academy and pass
probation. Transfers from other California law-enforcement agencies
would get $10,000.
By replicating the incentives being offered by law enforcement
agencies nationwide, the city hopes to boost its effort to add 1,000
officers to the Los Angeles Police Department.
"It came to me in December when I was thinking what we could do to
increase recruitment, " Villaraigosa said during a swearing-in ceremony
at the police academy in Elysian Park. "Other cities are doing this
and I thought we ought to try it."
The program is estimated to cost $1 million through June 30, the end
of the fiscal year, and could run as high as $3 million for a full
year's funding. Villaraigosa said other programs will have to be
trimmed to fund the signing bonuses, which still must be approved by
the City Council.
Council members Jack Weiss and Wendy Gruel appeared with Villaraigosa
on Monday. Several other council members and the Los
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Angeles Police Protective League have voiced support for the proposal.
Villaraigosa and Police Chief Bill Bratton said the build-up of the
LAPD is needed, even with crime at 40-year lows.
"It is not going to last forever and we need to be prepared to have
more officers on the streets. Even though overall crime is down, we
still have a problem with gangs," the mayor said.
"We only have one officer for every five gang members, and that is
just not enough."
The LAPD is about 100 below its authorized strength of 9,500 officers.
Villaraigosa has set a goal of having a force of 10,300 officers by
2011, with residents paying a trash-collection fee to fund the expansion.
To reach that goal, the department needs to hire 270 new officers each
year, in addition to replacing the 400 or so estimated to retire or
leave for other reasons.
In addition, the LAPD this year will lose 126 officers who'd agreed to
stay on the department after their retirement.
Bratton said the new cadet class reflects the efforts of city
officials cast a wide net in recruiting candidates.
The cadets include military veterans of the Iraq War, former residents
of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as college students, an X-ray
technician, a teen counselor, teachers, computer technicians and an actor.
Villaraigosa said the LAPD has another difficulty in competing with
other agencies, because of its high standards.
"A lot of these people apply to different law enforcement agencies and
they get to them first," Villaraigosa said. "It's something we have to
compete with."
The LAPD is one of the highest-paying law enforcement agencies in the
country, with a starting salary of $52,638 a year.
With that, what do you LEO's think of this? Do you think this will attract recruits? Or do you think this will attract people who are in it for the money?
$5,000 would be awarded upon academy graduation; part of effort to add
1,000 to the force.
By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/08/2007 09:09:05 PM PST
The 83 recruits who began training Monday to become LAPD officers
received an unexpected boost: They may be eligible for a $5,000 or
$10,000 bonus.
Under the program announced by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, recruits
would get $5,000 once they graduate from the police academy and pass
probation. Transfers from other California law-enforcement agencies
would get $10,000.
By replicating the incentives being offered by law enforcement
agencies nationwide, the city hopes to boost its effort to add 1,000
officers to the Los Angeles Police Department.
"It came to me in December when I was thinking what we could do to
increase recruitment, " Villaraigosa said during a swearing-in ceremony
at the police academy in Elysian Park. "Other cities are doing this
and I thought we ought to try it."
The program is estimated to cost $1 million through June 30, the end
of the fiscal year, and could run as high as $3 million for a full
year's funding. Villaraigosa said other programs will have to be
trimmed to fund the signing bonuses, which still must be approved by
the City Council.
Council members Jack Weiss and Wendy Gruel appeared with Villaraigosa
on Monday. Several other council members and the Los
Advertisement
Angeles Police Protective League have voiced support for the proposal.
Villaraigosa and Police Chief Bill Bratton said the build-up of the
LAPD is needed, even with crime at 40-year lows.
"It is not going to last forever and we need to be prepared to have
more officers on the streets. Even though overall crime is down, we
still have a problem with gangs," the mayor said.
"We only have one officer for every five gang members, and that is
just not enough."
The LAPD is about 100 below its authorized strength of 9,500 officers.
Villaraigosa has set a goal of having a force of 10,300 officers by
2011, with residents paying a trash-collection fee to fund the expansion.
To reach that goal, the department needs to hire 270 new officers each
year, in addition to replacing the 400 or so estimated to retire or
leave for other reasons.
In addition, the LAPD this year will lose 126 officers who'd agreed to
stay on the department after their retirement.
Bratton said the new cadet class reflects the efforts of city
officials cast a wide net in recruiting candidates.
The cadets include military veterans of the Iraq War, former residents
of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as college students, an X-ray
technician, a teen counselor, teachers, computer technicians and an actor.
Villaraigosa said the LAPD has another difficulty in competing with
other agencies, because of its high standards.
"A lot of these people apply to different law enforcement agencies and
they get to them first," Villaraigosa said. "It's something we have to
compete with."
The LAPD is one of the highest-paying law enforcement agencies in the
country, with a starting salary of $52,638 a year.
With that, what do you LEO's think of this? Do you think this will attract recruits? Or do you think this will attract people who are in it for the money?