LB Has Fewer Sworn Cops Than Budgeted and Yr End Retirements Will Thin Police Strength Further (November 28, 2001) -- In an admission won due to the efforts of LB activist John Deats -- whose charges were reported exclusively on LBReport.com for nearly two months -- city management has said LB currently has fewer sworn police officers than the City Council publicly budgeted. In addition, a still uncertain number of officers will likely retire by year's end, further thinning LB's police strength. City management notes new officers are currently attending a police academy class class set to graduate in spring, 2002. However, it is uncertain whether they will be sufficient to bring LB close to its budgeted officer strength or to some lesser level. The admissions came at the November 27 Council meeting and in follow-up facts confirmed by LBReport.com with senior city management today. In September, 2001, the City Council adopted a budget that included funding for 913.5 sworn officers. Assistant City Manager Jerry Miller confirmed to LBReport.com that as of yesterday, LB had 872 sworn police officers, plus 51 recruits (not yet sworn and paid less than a sworn officer) now in the current police academy class. That total (sworn officers plus not yet sworn recruits) is 923. However, some recruits will inevitably be lost to attrition, and those that survive won't become sworn officers until spring, 2002...and then must operate in tandem field positions for 16 months before going solo. Moreover, a number of currently sworn LBPD officers are expected to retire by year end, and it's still uncertain exactly how many will do so. Thus, if (random numbers for calculation only) roughly 40 recruits graduate the police academy, and 40 current officers retire, LB taxpayres would still be receiving roughly 873 sworn officers, not 913.5 budgeted by the Council. At the November 27 Council meeting, City Manager Henry Taboada publicly pledged to conduct another police academy class (each class takes six months to complete) in the coming year if needed. He also promised a publicly agendized report on LBPD staffing and budget issues at a forthcoming Council meeting. At the October 2, 2001 City Council meeting, retired LB Public Safety Advisory Commissioner John Deats used the public comment period for Councilmembers Jerry Shultz and Rob Webb requested a city staff report, which management agreed to provide. LBReport.com reported the story exclusively and included a transcript. In early November, LBReport.com learned and reported exclusively that city staff intended to send the report to Councilmembers as an "off agenda" item (that would not be agendized for public discussion). |